Clemson’s quarterback picture is still centered on true freshman Tait Reynolds heading into Week 8 against Virginia Tech, but Christopher Vizzina is making steady noise behind the scenes.
The redshirt junior, who has been sidelined with an elbow fracture since Week 2, had already drawn a positive update from Dabo Swinney last week. On Tuesday, Swinney said the momentum has kept building, pointing to Monday night’s practice as Vizzina’s strongest since he returned.
“He’s been awesome,” Swinney said on Tuesday. “And actually, last night was his best practice since Georgia Southern.
He’s starting to look like CV, which is really good. It’s the best I’ve seen him look.
It’s really encouraging. I thought he was really able to rip the ball, and he had a smile on his face because, I think, this is the best he’s been.”
That progress has come with Vizzina showing value in another way, too. Even while unavailable, he has remained a steady voice in the locker room and around the team.
“He’s been a great leader. I mean, he’s in our leadership meetings.
He’s talking to the guys; he’s encouraging the guys,” Swinney continued. “I mean, he’s awesome.”
Swinney also made clear how tough this stretch has been for the former four-star recruit, who barely had a chance to settle in as a starter before injury interrupted his season. Vizzina got the opening look in Baton Rouge and then the first three drives against Georgia Southern, where he accounted for one of Clemson’s only two passing touchdowns this season.
“Your heart breaks for him because, like I said, he didn’t even get a chance to really compete outside of his last three series,” he said. “And then he’s got a fracture in his arm, and he hasn’t really been able to do what he needs to do.”
What started as a situation where Vizzina was simply being prepared as an emergency option behind former walk-on Trent Pearman has now shifted. Swinney said the quarterback is moving closer to being available if Clemson needs him against Virginia Tech, which sits at 5-2.
“So it’s been more about getting him ready to be an emergency guy, but now he’s at a point where I think we can get him ready to play, based on what I saw last night,” Swinney finished. “So, we’ll see today, but I was very encouraged.”
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