Chad Kelly Dismissed from Clemson for Conduct Detrimental to the Team

Updates from Saturday, April 26

Tigernet.com's Tony Crumpton has an update on Kelly's next destination:

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According to the East Mississippi Community College website, former Clemson quarterback Chad Kelly signed a letter of intent to play for the Lions on 4/23/2014. Kelly would be able to play this fall at the junior college and then could transfer again to a Division 1 FBS school. 

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Original Text

The battle to replace quarterback Tajh Boyd at Clemson just got a little clearer, as redshirt sophomore Chad Kelly has been dismissed from the team.   

Head coach Dabo Swinney announced the news Monday, via CBS Sports' Chip Patterson, saying the nephew of NFL legend Jim Kelly "has had a pattern of behavior that is not consistent with the values of our program."   

Swinney added, per the school's official statement on Kelly, "I hope he will mature and grow from this and become the man and player I know he can be. I wish him nothing but the best in the future academically and athletically."

Steve Helber

Prior to Kelly's dismissal, there were rumors of an incident at a practice field that later turned out to be untrue, via James McCray of WYFF News 4:

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Initially, CUtigers.com reported that quarterback Chad Kelly was dismissed from the Clemson football team after being escorted by Clemson University police from the football team’s facility.

But WYFF News 4 has since spoken with Clemson University Police Chief Johnson Link who said university police were not involved in escorting Kelly from the West End Zone.

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The 20-year-old quarterback seemed to deny those claims shortly after the news broke as well (the tweet was later deleted): 

Ali A. Rogers—an intern with the football team, according to collegespun.com's Matt Lombardi, and Miss South Carolina 2012—sent out a tweet further clarifying the situation that ultimately led to Kelly's dismissal:

Nevertheless, it appears there was enough of an incident for the Tigers coaching staff to cut ties with Kelly, who came to Clemson as a 4-star prospect and fifth-highest-rated dual-threat QB, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Kelly sat out 2012 as a redshirt, and after tearing his ACL in the spring of 2013, he returned to play in five games last season, completing 10-of-17 passes for 58 yards.

As Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel noted, he was in the mix to replace Boyd under center for the Tigers:

Although many believed senior Cole Stoudt was the front-runner, Kelly and freshman Deshaun Watson were still expected to compete for the job through the summer. 

The decision now becomes a little bit easier for Swinney, though it's never ideal to lose depth at the quarterback position. Nevertheless, with Watson recovering from a collarbone injury, the job is undoubtedly Stoudt's to lose. 

As for Kelly, you can only hope the Niagara Falls, N.Y., native lands with a program where he is able to get back on track. It would be a shame to see his kind of talent go to waste, but it's clear he needs to prove he deserves another opportunity elsewhere.