Clemson is gearing up for the 2026 season without adding a quarterback from the transfer portal, placing their trust in Christopher Vizzina and the current roster. Vizzina, the only QB in the room with a starting nod under his belt, exudes confidence in his and his teammates' abilities.
After Clemson's eighth spring practice, Vizzina shared his thoughts: "I wasn't sure what was going to happen at the time, but I believe that we didn't need to get one because I believe in myself and the rest of the team and the development we had over the past year."
Head Coach Dabo Swinney echoed this sentiment, opting not to pursue a transfer quarterback despite a challenging 7-6 season in 2025 and the departure of Cade Klubnik. With Klubnik's eligibility expired, the Tigers' quarterback depth chart includes Vizzina, graduate student Trent Pearman, redshirt freshman Chris Denson, and freshmen Brock Bradley and Tait Reynolds. Collectively, they have just one start.
Vizzina remains steadfast in his commitment to Clemson, saying, "It wasn't gonna matter either way. If they brought someone in, I was still gonna stay because I care about Clemson.
I just want to compete, and I want to be the quarterback for Clemson University. Bottom line."
Though Vizzina hasn't been officially named the starter, his experience gives him an edge. Over his career, he's appeared in 14 games, completing 61% of his passes for 596 yards, with four touchdowns and one interception.
His rushing stats include 109 yards on 38 attempts. Notably, during his start against SMU, he threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns, completing 69% of his passes.
Reflecting on his journey, Vizzina said, "I'm a Clemson man. If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be here."
Chris Denson, a promising redshirt freshman, is another name to watch. As a former three-star recruit, Denson flipped his commitment from Coastal Carolina and made a splash in his limited appearances in 2025. His standout moment came against Furman, where he went 4-for-4 for 22 yards and a touchdown, adding 108 rushing yards and a score.
Denson is focused on enhancing his passing skills and has bulked up to nearly 200 pounds, aiming for 205. He remarked, "It definitely did boost my confidence a little bit being a true freshman. That was something I knew I could do."
As Clemson looks to rebound, the development of their quarterbacks will be crucial. With Vizzina leading the charge and Denson pushing for playing time, the Tigers are banking on internal growth to drive success in the upcoming season.