Ad Disclosure
Clemson student could start at quarterback for team playing against Clemson in season opener
By Jake Rill
Published:
Harris Roberts attends classes at Clemson. But when the Tigers open the season against Furman, he’ll be on the opposing sideline — and potentially even playing against them on the field.
How is this possible? Well, Roberts is enrolled in a cooperative educational exchange program that allows students to play football at one school and pursue their desired degree at another, as detailed in a story by The Greenville News.
Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree in pre-engineering in three years at Furman, the only Division 1 school to offer him a football scholarship. However, Roberts also wanted a degree in engineering, so he went to Clemson to earn a second bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Roberts is battling for the staring quarterback job at Furman, which opens its season against Clemson on Sept. 1.
When Roberts tells his Clemson classmates and professors about this rare situation, they’re appropriately surprised.
“Once they figure out that I play football at Furman, they’re kind of shell-shocked,” Roberts told The Greenville News. “They just kind of think it’s funny that they’re going to class with someone who is going to play against them.”
Even though Roberts attends classes at Clemson, he told The Greenville News that he did not consider a graduate transfer for his final two years of eligibility as he wanted the opportunity to start, which he has a better chance to do at Furman.
“It’ll be exciting, because I’ve kind of bided my time for four years, and I finally have an opportunity,” Roberts told The Greenville News. “I just really want to make the most of it.”
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
