To think that two years ago, Clemson and Florida State both had their eyes on the same two quarterbacks in the 2018 cycle: Taisun Phommachanh and fellow four-star Sam Howell.

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Howell liked Clemson, but the presence of Trevor Lawrence was a deterrent equivalent to what the Tigers experienced trying to court a quarterback after D.J. Uiagalelei.

So FSU put all its eggs in the Howell basket and attracted him through his relationship with offensive coordinator Walt Bell.