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In a somewhat unsurprising move, Tucker Israel has announced that he will graduate from Clemson and use the graduate transfer rule to find a new team for next season.
"My time here at Clemson will always hold a special place in my heart."
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) January 22, 2018
We look forward to Tucker Israel doing great things in life after getting his degree from @ClemsonUniv. We wish for good luck & great success for !
Forever a Tiger. Forever #ALLIN#ClemsonFamily pic.twitter.com/4atow3Lt0K
Israel was a Chad Morris recruit who set the Florida high school record for touchdown passes, breaking some guy named Tim Tebow’s record.
Israel was in the recruiting class after Deshaun Watson, red shirted, and was preparing to compete for the starting job last spring when a stomach ailment derailed his plans.
In an injury update in August Coach Swinney stated:
“Tucker has had a rough summer. That’s the best way I can say it. He had a good spring. He had a really good spring game. He is one of those guys that know how to play the game. He understands the game. He is smart. He’s got good instincts for the game. He’s got some kind of issue going on with his stomach. That’s the best way I can describe it. He throws up a lot. They have done a lot of tests on him. They did a colonoscopy and an edo-something. They came back good which is real positive for him. He has had a lot going on. It has just affected him. He has lost a lot of weight. Right now he is just trying to fight back and get healthy. That’s really all there is to say. He’s not done anything wrong. He’s a great kid.”
It would have been interesting to see a fully healthy Israel compete for the starting spot this season, but it just wasn’t in the cards.
We wish Tucker all the best, and look forward to seeing him light up the scoreboard next season. Wherever he ends up, he’ll have the entire Clemson fan base backing him.
Israel is the 2nd transfer out of the quarterback room this off season. Clemson still has an obscene amount of talent at the position with Kelly Bryant, Hunter Johnson, Chase Brice, and Trevor Lawrence all on the roster for next season.