Clemson’s quarterback situation got even murkier in the second half against Syracuse when true freshman Tait Reynolds headed to the locker room after grabbing at his left shoulder following an 18-yard touchdown run.
Reynolds did not stay out long. Even after the scare, he came back and finished the Tigers’ final two drives of the half.
But the body language was hard to miss. His left arm was hanging limp against his side on those possessions, especially right after the hit that seemed to bother him.
He was also sacked two plays later, part of a first half in which Clemson’s offensive line gave up three sacks.
The shoulder issue came after Reynolds had already taken on a heavy workload. Syracuse brought pressure throughout the game, and the freshman had thrown the ball 14 times by halftime, completing eight passes for 104 yards. Clemson’s only points had come on field goals from Nolan Hauser.
There was also a costly mistake before the break, as Reynolds threw an interception to defensive back Davien Kerr on the final drive of the first half. The shoulder he was favoring is not his throwing arm, but it still leaves plenty to watch as the game moves on.
If Clemson needs another option, the rest of the quarterback room is available. Senior Christopher Vizzina, who began the summer as the starter, has not played since injuring his non-throwing elbow in the second game of the season. Third-string quarterback Trent Pearman has only appeared in the win over Charleston Southern and threw two interceptions back in October.
How Clemson handles the offense in the second half will also matter. Chad Morris has leaned on Reynolds more than the running backs, with the Tigers not running the ball often and instead using designed quarterback runs.
Jarvis Green has only three carries, though he opened the game with a 53-yard scamper on the first play from scrimmage. He has not touched the ball since the first quarter, though that could change quickly.
Clemson Tigers on SI will continue to track Reynolds’s status and provide updates when necessary.
In Other News...
Clemson Has Every Reason To Watch NC States Risky Gamble
North Carolina State is reportedly moving toward a headline-grabbing hire in Philip Rivers, the former NFL quarterback and Wolfpack alumnus who would replace Dave Doeren if the deal is finalized. Rivers has coached at the high school level, but he has not worked in the college game, which is why this potential move is drawing so much attention well beyond Raleigh.
For Clemson, it is the kind of gamble worth watching closely. The Tigers have spent years dealing with NC State as a familiar ACC opponent, and a coaching change of this magnitude could alter the tenor of that matchup in a hurry. Whether Rivers can translate his name recognition and football background into a functioning college staff and program remains the real question, and it is the one hanging over the whole idea. [Read more 🡒]
SEC Criticism Of Lane Kiffin Just Got Harder For LSU To Ignore
The criticism around Lane Kiffin has only grown louder since LSUs loss to Alabama, and Paul Finebaum added his voice to the conversation by questioning whether the Tigers coach has truly figured out how to get past elite opponents. Finebaum pointed to Kiffins earlier success against lesser competition, but said the bigger test still hangs over him: proving he can win the games that matter most.
For LSU, the timing makes the scrutiny hard to ignore. The Tigers are trying to steady themselves while the schedule ahead offers little room to breathe, and every stumble only sharpens the debate about whether Kiffin can deliver in the SECs toughest spots. Until that changes, the questions around his ceiling will keep following him wherever LSU goes next. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Stayed Alive In The ACC Race But Exposed A Bigger Concern
Clemson kept its ACC hopes from slipping away with an 18-13 win over Syracuse, a result that extended the Tigers winning streak to two games and leaned heavily on a defense that did enough to preserve the margin. Nolan Hauser also tied a Clemson record with four field goals in the regular season, a reminder that the Tigers found points where they could even as the offense flashed only in bursts.
The bigger concern is how often Clemson had to settle instead of finish. The offense showed a few explosive plays, but it did not consistently turn them into touchdowns, leaving special teams and the coaching staff with mixed reviews after a game that was closer than the Tigers likely wanted. For a team still trying to stay in the ACC race, the win mattered, but the way it came about left plenty to sort through. [Read more 🡒]