TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 hugs head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 to win the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Dabo Swinney names leader to replace Deshaun Watson

Well here we go.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers played their spring game on Saturday, which wrapped up their spring practices for the semester. Most of the attention was on who would become the next quarterback to replace the prolific Deshaun Watson. It seems that one man has separated himself from the pack though.

"If we played a game today, Kelly (Bryant) would be the guy," Swinney told ESPN after the game. "But we don't play today. We play in September, and everything counts. I'm pleased with the spring all of them have had."

RELATED: Potential Deshaun Watson replacement suffers injury in spring game

Bryant suffered what was called a tear in his pinkie tendon during the game, but he came back in and played through it. He finished with 43 yards passing and an interception on 4-of-13 passing in the spring game. Despite those bad stats, fellow signal-callers Tucker Israel, redshirt freshman Zerrick Cooper and highly touted early enrollee Hunter Johnson apparently weren't able to close the gap between themselves and Bryant in Swinney's eyes.

However, there will be an entire summer for them to separate themselves or to close the gap and make it a tougher decision for coach Swinney.

[h/t College Football Talk]