Clemson’s quarterback battle took a clear turn Sunday, with Dabo Swinney naming Tait Reynolds the starter for the Tigers’ ACC opener against North Carolina.
Reynolds gets the nod after an extended look against Georgia Southern, where he did enough to convince the staff he should open the next game. For the freshman, it will be the first start of his career.
“We do feel like he’s earned the opportunity to start this week,” Swinney said. “He will go in as the starter and just build on the good things he did and correct some of the very correctable mistakes.”
The decision also came against the backdrop of Christopher Vizzina’s left arm injury, which showed up in the first half against Georgia Southern and altered Clemson’s planned rotation at quarterback. Swinney said Vizzina took a hit early and later told coaches he could not really feel his left arm.
“We were gonna put CV back in,” Swinney said. “And that’s when he told us he couldn’t really feel his left arm.”
That injury meant Clemson never got the full back-and-forth it had planned. Reynolds had his chance to work through several series, but Vizzina’s opportunity to answer was cut short.
Even so, Swinney said the call to start Reynolds was made on merit, not because Vizzina was hurt.
Asked whether the injury affected the decision, Swinney said, “Just how they played. We just feel like based on opportunity and mistakes and the body of work that Tait has earned the opportunity to start.”
Swinney also dismissed reports that Vizzina could be sidelined for multiple weeks.
“I don’t know what you’re alluding to, I have no idea,” Swinney said when asked about those reports. “I just got out of a meeting, so I don’t know what you’re talking about. All I know is they feel like he’s got a left kind of arm injury, but they feel like he’ll be available.”
For now, Vizzina is expected to enter the week as Reynolds’ backup. Whether that settles Clemson’s quarterback competition for good is still an open question.
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