CLEMSON, S.C.—There’s no doubt where Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker’s focus is: On the North Texas Mean Green.
After an exhausting summer of college baseball, Major League negotiations and big-time decisions about his direction, the Tigers’ sophomore passer is set to open the season against North Texas on Saturday at Death Valley.
Parker’s put most things outside of football on the back burner, and that includes his future employer, the Colorado Rockies. He agreed to a $1.4 million deal with Colorado last month.
His immediate concerns are the Mean Green of the Sun Belt Conference, and whether his new Tigers have the same firepower as a year ago.
Parker is one of the few standouts back from Clemson’s ACC Atlantic Division winners.
ACC player of the year C.J. Spiller is gone and so are the record-setting pass catchers—receiver Jacoby Ford and tight end Michael Palmer. The trio caught 135 of Clemson’s 220 completions a year ago in Parker’s successful debut season.
Parker could’ve easily opted out of Clemson’s offensive restoration this summer after his first-round selection by the Rockies (26th overall), but chose a baseball deal that let him to play football this fall because he believed in the Tigers’ direction.
Expect to see a lot of names on the stat sheet Saturday as Clemson coach Dabo Swinney finds out exactly what he’s got this season. Swinney is looking to go a step beyond last year’s achievement—the program’s first ACC title game appearance.
Along with backfield co-starters Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper, figure on Roderick McDowell to get some carries. Sophomore Dwayne Allen should get most of the throws to a tight end this season, but junior Drew Taylor is in the mix as well.
Count on freshmen DeAndre Hopkins and Bryce McNeal to see plenty of time at wide receiver.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of guys get a lot of touches,” Parker said. “Just to see who’s going to step up and make plays.”
North Texas may not have a lot of hope of stopping Clemson, no matter who the Tigers use. The Mean Green gave up more than 35 points and 412 yards a game last year to finish 2-10.
Still, fourth-year coach Todd Dodge saw a different, improved attitude among his returnees.
“Going through the offseason, going through spring ball, going through summertime,” Dodge said. “It’s been great.”
If North Texas is going to succeed on offense, junior tailback Lance Dunbar will play a big role. Dunbar rushed for 1,378 yards and 19 touchdowns. He had two games with over 200 yards rushing.
More importantly, Dodge said, Dunbar came back ready to work even harder.
“He didn’t get too full of himself which you worry about with a young player after a great season,” the coach said.
The Mean Green will have a new quarterback starter in Nathan Tune, who won the position after Dodge’s son, Riley, was moved to receiver because of arm injuries. Tune knows he’ll have his hands full at Death Valley, although his first career start came at Alabama in a 53-7 loss last fall.
“Expect the worst and, I guess, hope for the best,” Tune said.
The Tigers defense will be without starting linebacker Brandon Maye, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday.
Swinney’s ready to see Parker mesh with Clemson’s new weapons.
“Game week is kind of like Christmas for me,” Swinney said. “I’m anxious to see our team play. That’s the biggest thing from a coach’s standpoint. You plant your seeds in the offseason and now you see what you got. The only way to see that is to go play someone.”
