Top-ranked Clemson will be without star quarterback Trevor Lawrence for next week’s game at No. 4 Notre Dame, head coach Dabo Swinney announced following Saturday’s 34-28 win over Boston College.
Swinney, who revealed Thursday that the junior tested positive for the coronavirus, said Lawrence will not be cleared from a protocol standpoint.
“Trevor will not be able to play; I want to go ahead and get that out there,” Swinney said per thestate.com. “He’s doing great. He zoomed with the team last night. I talked to him this morning. He feels like he can play today. He’s doing well, but obviously there’s protocol.”
Freshman D.J. Uiagalelei, who passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a third against Boston College, will get his second start.
Lawrence, who watched Saturday’s game while isolating from the team, tweeted congratulations following the win: “LETS GO!!! So happy for this team. Great win. Miss being there more than anything. @DJUiagalelei did your thing proud of you.”
Per the Atlantic Coast Conference’s guidelines for players who test positive for coronavirus, Lawrence is required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days before being allowed to return to practice, barring any other lingering symptoms. The school’s announcement of Lawrence’s positive test came nine days prior to Clemson’s visit to No. 4 Notre Dame next Saturday. However, the statement did not specify when Lawrence’s positive test was taken.
The rules set forth by the ACC’s Medical Advisory Group require anyone testing positive for COVID-19 to isolate for at least 10 days after the test before returning to practice, assuming they are no longer showing symptoms.
Lawrence had started every game for Clemson since arriving on campus as a freshman in 2018, when he led the Tigers to a national championship. Clemson’s record under Lawrence is 35-1.
In six games this season, Lawrence has completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 1,833 yards with 17 touchdown passes and just two interceptions.
