The Missouri Tigers were thrilled this offseason when Clemson graduate transfer QB Kelly Bryant announced he was heading to Columbia.

He’s already been named the team’s starter this spring, and big things are expected from the dual-threat quarterback.

Even his old coach, Dabo Swinney, expects Bryant to thrive. While visiting the St. Louis Cardinals’ spring-training facility, beat reporter Derrick Goold spoke with Swinney about the Mizzou quarterback (via STLToday.com):

“He’s a great person first of all,” Swinney told Goold and other reporters on the scene. “He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever been around. He is truly a wonderful kid. Very smart. Very good student. He obviously graduated early with us. Just a high-character young man who is a really, really good player. He can run. He led us to an ACC championship in his first year as a starter. Went 12-2 that year. He’s a hard worker, he’s a committed guy, he’s a guy who will be a great teammate. I’m happy for him. It was something that he really wanted to do. And it worked out. He’s in a good situation. He’ll do a great job. He’ll have a heck of a year.”

Swinney clearly doesn’t have any hard feelings toward Bryant, who lost his starting job to Trevor Lawrence in 2018.

Now, we’ll see what he can make of himself in his final year of college eligibility at Mizzou this fall.