Backup QB Boyd takes advantage of practice

CLEMSON -- One of the last two players to vacate the practice field Tuesday was freshman quarterback Tajh Boyd.

There was still daylight as the Tigers' first- and second-team players filtered off the practice field. Under the lights, for another 20 minutes of work, remained the redshirting freshmen and other younger players for developmental work. It's a segment Clemson will add to its 10 practices leading up to the Music City Bowl.

Of the young reserves, Boyd was last off the field.

Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier says Boyd loves to work. And an extra minute, an extra throw, is valuable for Boyd as he attempts to make a run at the starting quarterback job in spring practice, a daunting task with freshman All-American Kyle Parker already in house.

"I don't think anything is out of the realm of possibility," said Swinney, when asked of the plausibility of Boyd pushing Parker in the spring. "Come spring, everyone has to compete, and there are no guarantees at any position. Kyle has had a really good freshman year, but no one is going to care about that next year."

Swinney used a similar developmental period last December during bowl practice, which he cited as beneficial for this season's team, especially Parker. The redshirt sophomore set Clemson freshman records in passing yardage and touchdowns this fall.

"It helped Kyle a ton, he had hardly any work at all (last fall)," Swinney said. "He hadn't taken a snap in pass (skeleton) till the 10th game. It was tremendously helpful to go through cadence, procedure, timing … speed of the game."

The extra time will allow Boyd to gain more familiarity with the Clemson offense, having run opponents' offenses all season as a scout-team quarterback.

According to Swinney, Boyd, who like Parker entered Clemson as a top-50 prospect according to ESPN, has "three times" the experience Parker had at this point last year.

Boyd has another advantage over Parker: he's not playing baseball.

Baseball could become a further factor for the Clemson should Parker have an outstanding spring and be drafted highly in the Major League Baseball June draft.

"With KP's baseball situation," Napier said, "there will be days where (Boyd) gets more work than usual (in spring practice)."

When asked if Parker will enter the spring as a clear-cut starter, or if there will be a competition, Napier noted Parker is a freshman All-American.

"I have no idea," Napier said. "He's going to get a lot of work and has every opportunity to prove he can help this football team."

Boyd said in August, just six months removed from ACL surgery, that he shouldn't be counted out of the quarterback battle between Parker and Willy Korn.

So Boyd -- who says his knee is 100 percent -- is certainly not counting himself out in March.

"I think (the spring) will be interesting," Boyd said. "I'm just worried about myself. Everyone's fate is in their own hands."

A controlling of fortune for Boyd that begins with no one watching during extra practice in December.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.