Dabo Swinney may not be ready to say it outright, but Clemson’s quarterback picture is starting to come into focus.
The clearest hint came Tuesday after practice, when Swinney made veteran Christopher Vizzina available to the media. Freshman Tait Reynolds, by rule, cannot meet with reporters until after he plays in a game. Still, the choice to put Vizzina in front of the cameras was hard to miss, and it pointed toward where Clemson may be leaning at the position.
According to Will Vandervort in his news and notes post for The Clemson Insider, Vizzina has “created a little separation in the Tigers' search for a new starting quarterback.” That lines up with the sense around camp that Vizzina has taken a step forward and is beginning to separate himself from Reynolds.
Vizzina’s growing role goes beyond the media availability. He appears to be settling in as a leader on the offense, and his experience may be exactly what Clemson needs right now. Reynolds has plenty of upside, but the Tigers seem to be moving toward Vizzina as the quarterback most likely to lead them into Week 1 against LSU.
That doesn’t mean Reynolds is out of the picture. He may still see the field in Baton Rouge, and both quarterbacks are expected to play at some point this season. But if the job is Vizzina’s to lose, he looks to be in pole position as Clemson works through fall camp.
The bigger takeaway is that this is a promising development for Swinney and the Tigers. The quarterback room has clearly pushed itself this summer, and that competition has raised the level of the group. Vizzina, Reynolds and the rest of the room have benefited from that internal pressure, and Clemson appears to be in better shape at the position than many expected.
Of course, Swinney and Chad Morris do not have to announce anything before the opener, and there is no guarantee they will be transparent about their decision. Clemson has a tough road game ahead in Baton Rouge, and Lane Kiffin may have a hunch about Vizzina, but that’s still just a guess.
What is obvious is that Clemson’s fall camp has been trending in a positive direction. The team seems to be pulling together, and the offense will need that kind of buy-in if the Tigers are going to get where they want to go. Whether that means Charlotte or bigger things beyond it, the leaders on this roster will have to deliver.
Even with Vizzina holding the edge now, nothing is locked in between here and Sept. 5.
Clemson can expect to use both quarterbacks this season, and whoever wins the job will not have much room for error. This is a new offense for everyone, and with a talented roster, the Tigers cannot afford to waste early chances.
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