Trevor Lawrence Details Why He Chose Clemson over Georgia

Trevor Lawrence was the biggest recruit in the country in 2018, he details why he chose Clemson over the in-state Georgia Bulldogs

The University of Georgia has recruited at an unprecedented rate under head coach Kirby Smart. Since his arrival in Athens, they've finished atop the sport in recruiting three times, not having finished outside the top-3 since 2016. It's been year after year of success on the recruiting trail for Smart and his coaching staff, to the tune of now two consecutive national championships. 

Though there have been misses here and there on the recruiting trail, it's part of the business of college sports and recruiting, especially at the quarterback position. 

There's been several tremendous signal callers to come out of the state of Georgia. In fact, there are 8 NFL quarterbacks on active NFL rosters from the Peach State, and perhaps the biggest "miss" on Kirby Smart's record is Jacksonville Jaguars QB, Trevor Lawrence. 

Lawrence was an extremely coveted high school prospect, at the time of his commitment announcement, he was the highest-rated quarterback in the history of the recruiting industry. He broke a litany of Georgia state passing records that still stand to this day. His decision to attend Clemson over the home-state Georgia Bulldogs was somewhat of a disappointment at the time for Smart and his staff, of course, this was prior to all of the current success now some 6 years later. 

Lawrence was recently featured on the Pivot where he discussed the decision to chose Clemson over Georgia and what went into the process. 

"I was treated well, but I think the, you know, the underlying, the beliefs, the way that two programs kind of went about their business where they carried themselves, I think they were a little bit different. You know, I had a great relationship with Coach Smart. I actually just saw him two weeks ago in the Bahamas, like ran into him, and we caught up. And you know, I hadn't talked to him since high school, but had a great relationship with him. And with Coach Sweeney. When it came down to for me, it was just the people, the rest of the people, everybody, all in all, I felt like, at the time, and who knows, and Georgia has obviously built something special. So it's worked for him. But I felt 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 want to surround myself with that. I felt like Clemson was the right place for me."

Lawrence would go on to say that he felt great about both schools during his recruitment, but that he felt as if God was calling him to Clemson. 

I think God kind of, he kind of orchestrated my steps before I knew, because when I was deciding, you know, I felt really good about both schools and just felt something about Clemson. But I really couldn't put my finger on it. Like, I didn't know what it was, I just felt drawn to this place for some reason. And I kind of went back and forth when I got more visits to each of them. And then it's like, I'm choosing Clemson. I'm going with it. And looking back now and the friends that I have in my life, the influential people that I've met, that have just really helped me become who I am. It's cool.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks to pass during the first quarter of the College Football Championship at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California Monday, January 7, 2019. Clemson Alabama 1st Half / Credit: Ken Ruinard

Lawrence did say that sometimes he thinks about what could have been had he gone to Georgia: 

"Looking back on it, like what could have been if I went to Georgia? Like how would that have been different? How would I be different? I guess I don't know the answer to that question. But I think it's cool to see how that was all kind of orchestrated."

Other Georgia News:

• WATCH: Carson Beck Speaks Following UAB Win
• Georgia's Perfect Redzone Efficiency Key to 49-21 Victory Over UAB
• BREAKING: Kirby Smart Makes SEC Coaching History

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