Trevor Lawrence had been at the top of his class at every level of football growing up in Cartersville, Georgia. But he ultimately decided against playing for the hometown Bulldogs when he committed to the Clemson back in 2018.
Speaking on his decision to join the Tigers over UGA, Lawrence told “The Pivot” it came down to his special relationship with the coaching staff, as well as his faith.
The position I was in, I was a big recruit so I was treated well. But I think the underlying, the beliefs, the way the two programs kind of went about their business, the way they carried themselves? I think they were a little bit different. What it came down to, for me, was just the people. The rest of the people, everybody. … I feel like, at the time, to go with who I am and the way I kind of wanted my career to go. And especially the people I wanted to surround myself with? I felt like Clemson was the right place for me.
Adding:
I had a great relationship with coach [Kirby] Smart. I actually just saw him two weeks ago in the Bahamas. We ran into him and we caught up. I hadn’t talked to him since high school. But I had a great relationship with him and with coach Swinney. Obviously Georgia’s built something special so it’s worked for them.
Lawrence, of course, went on to win a national title at Clemson and finished his career with over 10,000 passing yards and 90 touchdowns.
Safe to say, it all worked out for the former No. 1 pick.