Dabo Swinney isn't taking any more chances with his star quarterback's knee than necessary.
The Clemson coach said Tuesday that sophomore Deshaun Watson, who is coming off an ACL tear suffered at the end of last season, will wear a knee brace full-time this season, according to TigerIllustrated.com.
Watson was sporting the brace as fall camp opened for the Tigers.
Whether the move affects Watson's mobility remains to be seen, but it should certainly help keep the talented and mobile Watson on the field. And based on his freshman year, that will be critical to Clemson's success this season. The oft-injured Watson posted some big numbers last season and won some key games, including a victory over rival South Carolina, but injuries cost him five of Clemson's last seven games.
If Watson is a little more tentative on the run this season, it's not necessarily a bad thing for Clemson. Though athletic, he's not a run-first quarterback, and his freshman season made it clear he does his best work from the pocket.
Here are six other things we learned from the opening of fall camps around the country:
2. Moving around. Georgia's Leonard Floyd has always been a pass-rushing outside linebacker in Georgia's defensive scheme, but defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt revealed Tuesday that the lanky Floyd (6-foot-4, 231 pounds) will also play some inside linebacker this season and some at the "Star" position, as well. It will be a tall test for Floyd, who will be asked to take on more blocks and play a tougher brand of football than he has before. It's not quite the same as the test Bud Dupree had to pass at Kentucky last year in playing a more diverse role, but NFL scouts will certainly take note of whether Floyd can adapt. Given that the Pittsburgh Steelers took Dupree with the No. 22 overall draft selection, it's a move that could help Floyd if he responds well.
3. Out for the year. Notre Dame running back Greg Bryant won't only miss the first four games of the season. Coach Brian Kelly confirmed Bryant will be out for the entire season, reportedly for academic reasons. Kelly also announced medical disqualifications for linebacker Michael Deeb and tight end Mike Heuerman. Bryant was the Fighting Irish's No. 2 rusher last year. The other two weren't big contributors, but from a depth standpoint, it wasn't the way to get camp started in South Bend.
4. Wake-up call. Camp isn't off to the best of starts at Wake Forest either, where offensive lineman Ryan Anderson has been suspended for five games and safety Thomas Brown has been suspended for one. Both are starters.
5. Welcoming the pressure. TCU coach Gary Patterson's team isn't an underdog anymore, but he doesn't mind being the target as one of the preseason Big 12 favorites. "It's like dating. I'd rather be the frontrunner," Patterson said.
6. Rehabbed and ready. Mississippi State defensive back Kendrick Market tore his Achilles tendon in the Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech last season, but was on hand for MSU's first practice of the season, according to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. After losing two of the first 50 picks of the 2015 NFL Draft off its defense (Preston SmithandBenardrick McKinney), the Bulldogs can use all the help they can get on that side of the ball this fall.
7. Vote of confidence? Miami (Fla.) coach Al Golden opens camp with the backing of Hurricanes athletic director Blake James. For a storied program with higher expectations than the 6-7 season Golden delivered last year, support from above is important. But James was also clear that improvement is expected, presumably in short order, in Coral Gables. The key for better times at UM? Big strides for a defense that allowed 30 points a game over a four-game losing streak to end last season, and a step forward from promising young quarterback Brad Kaaya.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.
