As Clemson wrapped up its time in Charlotte, a few things about the 2026 Tigers came into focus.
The biggest one is still the quarterback picture. Dabo Swinney has already made it clear he believes Christopher Vizzina is the likely starter, and that confidence was echoed by his teammates during ACC Kickoff week. Edge rusher Will Heldt said he has watched Vizzina work since last January and believes the junior is ready for the job.
“I’ve been with CV since last January,” Heldt said. “I’ve seen him work his tail off.
He’s ready for the opportunity. He played well when he got in last season, and he’s got the edge right now.”
That stretch last season included a 35-24 loss to SMU in Death Valley, a game that dropped Clemson to 3-4. Even in defeat, Vizzina gave the Tigers something to build on, throwing three touchdowns and looking like a quarterback who belonged.
Swinney sounded similarly encouraged afterward, saying, “He did a lot of good things [today],” and adding, “We’ve seen a lot in practice. He just hasn’t had a ton of opportunity.
This will help him. We’ve got a lot of confidence in him.
He competed his butt off today in a tough situation.”
The other major storyline out of Charlotte was Clemson’s defense, where Brown and Heldt both pointed to Tom Allen’s second year in the system as a real turning point. The 2025 season had its share of coverage breakdowns and problems against explosive offenses, but the Tigers’ defensive leaders believe the group is in a much better place now that the scheme is no longer brand new.
“The biggest thing that you get going into year 2 is that you get an understanding of the defense,” Brown said. “Understanding conceptually what we are trying to do.
In Year 1, you’re really just looking at what my responsibilities are. I’ve really taken a step back and looked at it from that 30,000-foot view.
When you’re able to understand that, then you can set your attention on the offense.”
Heldt made the same point in his own way. “The second year within a scheme, you can’t put a price on it.” he said.
“The comfortability and the confidence that you’re able to play with, it really is game-changing. I think you saw it towards the end of last season, how we came together.
All 11 (players) were moving in the same direction. I think it’s going to mean everything for us being able to bring all the new guys up to speed.”
At the same time, there was a reminder from the coaching side that offseason confidence only matters if it shows up when the games begin. As Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin said Thursday, sounding confident in July “sounds good in a press conference.
It’s a great sound bite. The reality is, we’ve got to make sure all those things translate to the season.”
Clemson’s incoming transfers were another constant talking point. Swinney brought in a record-setting 11 players through the portal, nearly tripling last year’s total of four, and the buzz around that group was especially strong on defense.
Heldt singled out JUCO defensive line transfer Andy Burburija, saying, “I haven’t seen him get on the field yet, but I think it’s going to be fun here in a few weeks to see him get out there,” Heldt said. “He’s got tree trunk legs. I think that man’s going to stop the run.”
Other names that kept coming up were safety Corey Myrick from Southern Miss, cornerback Elliot Washington II from Penn State, and edge rusher London Merritt from Colorado. Merritt, listed as a third option behind Heldt and Jaheim Lawson, could be in line for immediate work, especially with Lawson expected to draw plenty of attention.
That matters because Clemson is bringing back only five defensive starters, which leaves a lot of room for new faces to make their mark. And with LSU waiting in Tiger Stadium in the opener, the Tigers won’t get much time to ease into it.
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Sammy Brown Opens Up About What Max Joining Clemson Means
The chance to line up with a younger brother is rare enough in college football, and Sammy Brown is already thinking about what it will mean when Max Brown arrives at Clemson in the 2027 recruiting class. The junior linebacker said he is grateful for the opportunity to share the field with Max again after doing so in high school, a family connection that adds another layer to a program that has already become central to both brothers football lives.
Sammy also made clear that Max will have to carve out his own path once he gets to Clemson, rather than simply living in his older brothers shadow. For now, Sammys attention stays on the Tigers 2026 season, with any NFL Draft decision something he plans to sort out after the year, but the idea of another Brown in the locker room is already giving Clemson fans something to watch down the road. [Read more 🡒]
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The talk around Clemson and Dabo Swinney has only grown louder whenever the Tigers hit a rough patch, but one former Tiger who now works for ACC Network is pushing back on the idea that the program is slipping. Eric Mac Lain points to the kind of roster Clemson still has assembled, from elite talent at receiver to offensive line help when healthy, and he frames the Tigers as a team that remains built to contend rather than one fading into the background.
The bigger reason the debate is likely to linger is what Clemson has lined up next, starting with a trip to Baton Rouge for an early measuring-stick game against LSU. The Tigers also enter 2026 with major staff continuity and change working at the same time, including Chad Morris back on offense and an expected Year 2 jump on defense under Tom Allen, which should make the next step in the programs arc a lot clearer once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
National Critic Just Took Dabos Clemson Defense To Another Level
Dabo Swinney built Clemson into one of college footballs defining powers during a blistering run from 2015 through 2019, a stretch that included a 71-5 record and four trips to the national championship game. That history still carries real weight, even as the Tigers have spent the last few seasons trying to recapture the standard that once made them a fixture at the top of the sport.
Paul Finebaum took aim at that disconnect on a recent broadcast, saying Swinneys defense of Clemsons place in the national conversation no longer matches what has happened on the field. The criticism lands harder because Clemson is coming off a 7-6 season after consecutive four-loss years and a preseason No. 4 ranking, leaving the program in the awkward spot of being judged against its own peak while outsiders wonder whether the slide is temporary or something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]