Clemson’s quarterback situation shouldn’t be turning into a mystery. With Cade Klubnik gone to the NFL, the clearest path points to Christopher Vizzina stepping in as the Tigers’ starter, even if true freshman Tait Reynolds and redshirt freshman Chris Denson are still technically in the mix.
That’s the read from Zach Koons, who slotted Vizzina in his quarterback rankings and framed the move as a familiar Clemson decision. “Clemson is moving past the never-fully-realized Cade Klubnik era by turning to the guy who backed him up for the past two years,” Koons wrote. “It would seem to be a very typical move by Dabo Swinney to favor continuity and familiarity rather than dip into the portal, but it could also be a testament that Vizzina is the best option for the Tigers.”
Koons also pointed to Vizzina’s lone start against SMU as evidence that he wasn’t the reason Clemson lost. “In his sole start against SMU, Vizzina was far from the issue, throwing for 317 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-24 loss,” Koons finished. “If he’s capable of producing performances like that more regularly, Clemson may be able to right the ship after a few down years.”
That view lines up with Ourlads, which currently lists Vizzina as Clemson’s QB1, with Denson behind him and Reynolds third on the depth chart. Reynolds may bring plenty of upside, but Swinney has generally leaned toward the safer, more familiar route when choosing his quarterback, and that approach has worked for him throughout Clemson’s run.
Vizzina’s profile fits what Clemson usually wants, too. He came out of high school as a four-star recruit from Birmingham with the goal of becoming the next Tigers quarterback. The setup around him also looks favorable, with Chad Morris back calling plays and Tajh Boyd in the building as another Clemson voice in his ear.
From a practical standpoint, the case for Vizzina is straightforward. He appears ready to handle the job, and Clemson has enough receiving talent around him to make the offense work. Reynolds and Denson may both have the ability to do that as well, but Vizzina seems like the most mature option to carry the responsibility right now.
And that matters because Clemson cannot afford to stumble early if it wants to get back into the College Football Playoff. The Tigers need stability under center, not another season where a few Power Four losses pile up before September is even over. There’s also the matter of protecting Reynolds’ confidence if the job isn’t his yet.
If Vizzina is the answer, Clemson should stop dragging this out and hand him the offense. If he isn’t, then the Tigers can move on later.
But heading into the Battle for Death Valley with LSU, the gamesmanship doesn’t seem worth it. The smarter play is to make the call, trust the logic, and get on with it.
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