Brice is "one of the most talented quarterbacks in the ACC"

CLEMSON— The Clemson Tigers are in an incredible place when it comes to quarterbacks.

Not only do they have a Heisman Trophy candidate in starter Trevor Lawrence, but according to co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott, they also have one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC as their backup.

"I think he’s (Chase Brice) one of the more talented quarterbacks in the ACC," Scott said. "He just happens to play on the same team as Trevor. But he hasn’t let that slow him down one bit. He’s had an outstanding fall camp, can make all the throws, and really maybe the separation last year between Trevor and Chase might have been a little bigger gap.

"I think Chase has really come up there a lot closer to where Trevor is. You don’t see a very big drop off at all with either of those guys in."

Part of what has helped both Lawrence and Brice this fall has been the play of their offensive line, a stable fo running backs and some of the most talented wide receivers in the nation

"Trevor. He’s pretty good," head coach Dabo Swinney said. "I think our first group up front has got a chance to be pretty good. I’m really pleased with the OL. We’ve got some backup guys that are going to be able to really help us too, but that first group has really done a nice job.

Travis Etienne had probably his most extensive day (in Thursday's scrimmage). He really needed a good work day like today. He had some nice plays, had a couple of touchdowns. Lyn-J Dixon had a good day today. It was good to see him. He made a couple of really nice cuts.

"And then our receivers, we have a bunch of guys that have been really steady outside. That whole group’s been really steady."

Lay continues to garner praise:

With the suspension of tight end Braden Galloway for the 2019 season looming over the tight end position, one player who has had the spotlight thrust on him this fall is true freshman Jaelyn Lay.

After the Tigers' spring practice session, Swinney said that the light had not fully come on for Lay—who had a "deer in the headlights" look for a lot of the spring.

But after having a rough spring, Lay put in the work through the summer and it is paying off in fall camp.

"Probably the most improved player from spring is Jaelyn Lay," Swinney said. "That doesn’t mean he’s Dwayne Allen just yet, but from where he was in the spring, he’s probably the most improved player and is going to be able to help us. Really pleased with him. He’s playing with confidence. He’s catching the ball. He made some tough catches. He’s playing fast. He’s still a work in progress.

"That’s a very difficult position in our scheme. But he’s much, much improved, which is a big shot in the arm for us, because we’re going to need him."

Lay is not the only player vying for a key role on the Tigers' offense, J.C. Chalk, Luke Price and true freshman Davis Allen—who has missed the majority of camp with an injury, but is still expected to play this season—are all hoping to help the Tigers at a thin tight end position.

J.C. Chalk probably had his best day (in Thursday's scrimmage)," Swinney said. "He had three or four really nice catches. I can’t remember if it was a touchdown or he got down to the one, but he’s catching the ball and playing with confidence.

"Luke Price is another guy who is going to help us for sure. Davis Allen has been doing everything mentally, but still waiting for them to cut him loose so he can physically go do it. It’s a shame he missed camp. He’s probably a guy that’s going to have to help us, and I’m hoping that he can. But until we see him do it full speed it’s hard to be sure. I think he’s got the right mindset but we’ll see. But Jalelyn is much improved, very encouraged by him.