Yahoo Finance Clemson will be without offensive coordinator Tony Elliott for CFP semifinal
Tony Elliott, Clemson’s offensive coordinator and play caller, will miss the College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State on Friday because of COVID-19 protocols.
The school announced on Wednesday that Elliott would not be taking the trip to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl, meaning Clemson will be playing the Buckeyes with a new play caller.
Elliott is one of the country’s top assistant coaches, and his value to Clemson is particularly significant considering that coach Dabo Swinney is generally hands-off with the program’s schemes.
A source told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday afternoon that the program was still determining how to replace Elliott as a play caller, but the general expectation was that quarterback coach Brandon Streeter would fill the role.
Streeter has been Clemson’s quarterback coach since the 2014 season, which gives him a strong familiarity with the offense. Streeter serves as the pass-game coordinator, and the Clemson staff prides itself on the collaborative nature of how the offense works. That means Streeter generally has a big hand in the game plan and a say in how the game is called.
If Clemson beats Ohio State on Friday, a source said that Elliott will be able to come back for the national championship game on Jan. 11.
Elliott won the Broyles award for the nation’s top assistant coach back in 2017. He’s been a target of numerous head coaching jobs but has elected to stay at Clemson, as he’s been selective about where he’s expressed interest.
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