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Chris Hairston is a big man with an even bigger responsibility this fall -- a duty that he jokes could make him rich.

"I'm going to have to talk to the Rockies about a little incentive plan to keep the man out of harm's way," the Clemson offensive tackle said at the recent ACC media gathering in Greensboro, N.C.

"The Man" would be Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker, who turned down more than $2 million in bonus money from the Colorado Rockies to return to Clemson for his redshirt sophomore year.

A slugging first baseman/outfielder for Clemson's baseball team, Parker was drafted 26th overall in the MLB draft in June after belting 20 homers in the spring.

To the surprise of many, Parker announced on July 21 that he would return to help Clemson defend its Atlantic Division title, while leaving open the possibility of a deal with the Rockies that would allow him to maintain his football eligibility. MLB rules give him until Aug. 16 to sign a contract.

Parker told The Associated Press that the decision he made wasn't the one he initially assumed he'd make.

"I pretty much thought I was gone," he said.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, however, did not.

"I said since the spring that the only thing that would surprise me is if he wasn't under center for the Tigers," Swinney said. "I would be surprised if he doesn't sign a baseball contract -- I will be surprised by that.

"Why was I so certain? Because I've been in Death Valley, and I know what it feels like to run down that hill, and so does Kyle Parker."

The decision greatly enhances Clemson's offensive potential. Instead of transitioning to redshirt freshman Tajh Boyd under center, the Tigers can turn to a known quantity. Parker set a freshman school record with 20 touchdown passes last season while guiding Clemson to the ACC title game.

"I feel like we'd be a great team with or without him," Hairston said. "But what he brings to the table is something special. It's experience. It's a leadership capability that helps you get to the next level.

"Without Kyle, the freshman bumps and bruises that every team would have to go through with a quarterback that young won't happen."

The Tigers still must forge a new identity without running back C.J. Spiller, who took ACC Player of the Year honors last season. The conference media picked Clemson to finish second in its division behind Florida State.

That ranking might have been lower without the promise of Parker.

"I still think he's going to do pretty good [financially] and probably have to buy a lot of pizzas this fall for the fellas," Swinney said. "But at the end of the day, I think he went with his heart."