To the Diamond: Clemson’s Kyle Parker Drafted 26th in MLB Draft

Clemson fans likely watched in a mixture of support and frustration when they saw five former Tigers get taken in the 2010 NFL Draft, most notably CJ Spiller, the feature offensive weapon on this team the past two seasons.

However, it’s the draft that most fans likely didn’t watch that could really change up the outlook for this upcoming 2010 Clemson football season.

Kyle Parker, the Tigers quarterback and arguably best returning offensive piece, was taken 26th in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.

Parker, known as a very talented two-sport athlete, lead his baseball team in home runs with 20. Ironically enough, he also threw 20 touchdown passes for Clemson’s football team in 2009.

So, the to-be sophomore quarterback will have a huge decision to make: Toss touchdowns for one of the front runners in the ACC, or take his chances in left field with the Rockies.

If he does choose Colorado, he’ll likely get somewhere in the two-million dollars per year area to start, and will work in the farm systems to hopefully get up to the majors before his likely 3 year contract runs out.

If he chooses Clemson, he’ll have a chance to build on his outstanding freshman campaign with one of the most talented defenses in the country and an offense that should still be explosive.

Dabo Swinney, Clemson football coach, said in his statement about the draft selection that he will “sit down with Kyle and his family” to see “where he stands”. He also made a point of it to say that Kyle has a “bright future in football” and we hope “he’ll be under center for us this fall”.

According to ESPN.com’s baseball expert Keith Law, Parker’s football career is all but over, and while he was a little over picked, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll turn that down.

So, Clemson fans, whether you like it or not, start to prepare for your team to turn to a freshman quarterback yet again, this time in the Virginia recruit Tajh Boyd. And while if Boyd is the starter to open the season, he’ll get to warm-up with North Texas and Presbyterian, he’ll have to also be your answer to the immensely talented defenses in Miami (FL), North Carolina, Florida State and the rest of the ACC.