Former Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence had good reasons to keep his pro day Friday, a month early. Lawrence wanted to prove to the NFL teams that he can handle himself well when things don’t go to plan.
“The original plan was to train in California for two months, then come back for a show on March 11 and do all of that, but life comes up sometimes,” said Lawrence on the ACC Network / ESPN2 after his 45-year training. minutes at Clemson on Fridays. Just adapt and show that I can adapt and adapt and still be willing to come out here and throw and give teams a chance to see me, that was important to me and important to my team to make sure to make sure we’ve made that possible. .
“Obviously it wasn’t the ideal situation and conditions per se, but I think we did a great job of just maneuvering and navigating through it.”
Lawrence pushed back his pro day because he is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the labrum damage in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, and he wanted to be completely evacuated before training camps opened in July. He threw about 40 passes – mostly from below center – to receivers Cornell Powell, Charone Peake, Caleb Scott and Chris Finke in Clemson’s indoor practice facility.
Lawrence said he expected to start throwing six to eight weeks after surgery and be completely free after four to five months.
On Friday, Lawrence threw a variety of passes, including some rollouts, and finished with a 65-yard deep throw on a broken play in which he scrambled before launching the ball. That pitch received praise from the ESPN-on-air crew and on social media. But ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay, who was at practice, was more impressed with Lawrence’s work in the red zone.
“Get the ball out quickly and throw it high where the defender can’t get it,” McShay said on the broadcast. “I saw that consistently in the red zone today, just the ability to throw the ball high at that specific spot, the placement of the ball.
“Yes, the deep throws were great and the vertical throws are what everyone loves … But within the red zone you can learn a little bit about a quarterback in terms of how fast he gets it out and where he puts that ball. “
Thirty-one people from 17 NFL teams were scheduled to attend practice, including three of the Jacksonville Jaguars: head coach Urban Meyer, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, and passing game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. The Jaguars have the best choice in the April 29 concept, and Meyer spent nearly all of practice next to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, a few yards from Lawrence.
‘Yes Yes. I’ve seen him, ”Lawrence said with a smile. “I saw a lot of the guys come through, but yeah, I saw him. I just waved to him really quickly. I can’t really communicate there. But yeah, it was cool to see all the teams come out. a lot of fun to be with. I’m glad I still have to do it. “
Lawrence – who measured 6 feet 5 5/8 and 213 pounds with 10-inch hands, 34½-inch arms, and a 78¼-inch wingspan – said he is most looking forward to learning a new offensive system as well as an adjustment to life in the NFL. He said he enjoys the mental challenge of football, which is something every coach wants to hear.
“I think, mentally, of course, the game is a little bit different at the NFL level and what’s on your plate,” said Lawrence. “So just take this time, especially after surgery, to mentally prepare when I can’t physically, and then if I really can physically, I’m just going to grind and get ready. Just really excited for that challenge.
“I love to learn. That’s one of my favorite parts of the game. It’s so much fun learning a new system and putting everything together. It’s a lot of fun, so I’m excited to do that. but I think that’s the most important thing is just mental, defensive recognition, playbook, all that stuff. ”