Georgia State coach Trent Miles said the Panthers’ plan won’t change if Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson doesn’t play on Saturday.
Watson suffered a sprained lateral cruciate ligament after a 7-yard run in the first quarter of last week’s loss at Georgia Tech. It was his first start since missing the previous three games after injuring a finger at Louisville.
Back-up Cole Stoudt threw three interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns, in the 25-6 loss to the Yellow Jackets that dropped Clemson to 7-3 overall.
Coach Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Chad Morris implied that if Watson couldn’t play on Saturday that Stoudt and Nick Schuessler would compete for the starting job. The Tigers will play South Carolina in the regular-season finale.
“We just have to worry about what we do best and I wish the young man the best,” Miles said.
Stoudt has started six games this season, going 4-2 with loss to Georgia and Florida State. He has passed for 1,444 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Watson, a native of Gainesville, is 3-1 as a starter. He has passed for 1,203 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Schuessler, a native of Grayson, has appeared in three games.
The Tigers are averaging 29.8 points and 407.3 yards per game.
Arbuckle's records: Already the owner of most of Georgia State's passing records in just his first season, Nick Arbuckle can aim for a few more on Saturday against a tenacious Clemson defense.
Arbuckle needs 14 completions to break the career record of 227 set by Drew Little during the team’s inaugural season in 2010.
With 313 yards Arbuckle can set the career passing yards mark of 3,124 set by Ronnie Bell last year. One more touchdown pass will break a tie of 19 for that career mark as well as tie the mark set in touchdowns responsible for (22).
Arbuckle holds the season records in completions (214), passing yards (2,812) touchdown passes (19) and total offense (2,799).
The Tigers have an outstanding defense this season, allowing just 19.4 points 262.1 yards per game, which is second among FBS teams.
Injury updates: The Panthers are getting healthy heading into Saturday's game at Clemson.
Miles gave the team four days off during last week’s bye.
Returning this week are leading tackler Joseph Peterson, tight end Keith Rucker and safety Nate Simon.
Miles said he hopes outside linebacker James Traylor can return by the season finale against Texas State.
Guard Akil Hawkins is expected to miss Saturday’s game.
Change: Running backs coach Brock Lough has been excused from the team for the rest of the season because his mother, Cheryl, died of complications from lung cancer on Sunday.
Tim Lappano will shift from wide receivers and coach running backs and Ronnie Fouch will coach the receivers until Lough returns.
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