Would he or wouldn't he? That was the biggest offseason question surrounding the Clemson football program, which waiting for quarterback Kyle Parker's decision on whether to play another season of college football or plunge into professional baseball.
The speculation began on June 7 when Parker the first Division I player ever to hit 20 home runs and throw 20 touchdown passes in the same academic year was selected in the first round of the major league draft by the Colorado Rockies. It didn't end until the early morning hours of July 21 when Parker called football coach Dabo Swinney to inform him that he'd be back for a sophomore season.
"He obviously loves playing football and he's very good at it," Swinney said.
"I think he could have a professional career in football. I think he'll end up signing a (baseball) contract, but he'll go in January. In the meantime, he'll lead us to Charlotte (site of the ACC Championship Game) and finish it off this time."
With Parker back, Clemson's expectations are soaring again. The Tigers, coming off a 9-5 season and their first ACC Atlantic Division title, suddenly appear capable of challenging preseason favorite Florida State for division supremacy.
"It's OK to allow people to underestimate you a little bit," Swinney said. "But it's all about the players, about a team coming together and believing in the process and the ingredients that you've got to put together to win. Every year there are a thousand problems. There are always these questions."
The other most-asked question? How will the team replace C.J. Spiller, the record-breaking all-purpose back who was drafted No. 9 overall by the Buffalo Bills last April?
"He was a once-in-a-lifetime player," Swinney said. "It will take three or four players to do what he did last year for us."
Two leading candidates are running backs Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper, who have shown flashes of brilliance while playing back-up roles in the past couple of seasons. Ellington rushed for 491 yards and averaged an eye-popping 7.2 yards per carry a year ago. Harper rambled for a game-high 79 yards in last year's win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.
An unproven receiving corps adds additional concern on offense, but a veteran line that returns four starters should help the new running backs establish themselves and provide time and space for Parker to find open receivers.
Defense should be the Tigers' strong suit. A bevy of talented players return, including defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins and All-American safety DeAndre McDaniel, who led the ACC and ranked third nationally with eight interceptions in 2009.
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Clemson Tigers
