Clemson has seen enough from Tait Reynolds through the air to know there’s something there. The next step, though, is obvious: let the true freshman quarterback become a bigger problem with his legs.
Dabo Swinney didn’t exactly hide what he wants to see more of. Reynolds has flashed the kind of mobility that changes games, but Clemson still hasn’t gotten the full version of it.
Swinney said, “He can fly. He's running a little, but he's had a fumble or two.
He's a little tentative, but we need his legs to be a difference... He doesn't run well -- he runs elite,” Swinney said of Reynolds' mobility.
“He's got elite speed, and we haven't really seen that yet. We've seen him extend and create and escape, but we haven't seen him take a game over with his legs like he can.
I think that's the next step for him.”
That message lines up with what the numbers show. Reynolds has only 61 yards on 55 carries this season, and while sacks have dragged that average down, the bottom line is still rough: 1.1 yards per carry is not going to cut it.
Even so, he has settled in as Clemson’s second-most dependable runner behind Gideon Davidson. With Chris Johnson Jr. and others not answering the bell as change-of-pace options, a lot has fallen on Reynolds already.
What he’s shown so far has been useful, just not fully unleashed. Reynolds can make throws that nobody else on the roster can, and he’s starting to build a solid connection with Tyler Brown, TJ Moore, and Bryant Wesco Jr.
But when he decides to tuck it and go, the offense has tended to bog down. He has no trouble giving the ball to Davidson.
The issue is what happens when Reynolds keeps it himself.
That leaves Clemson with a pretty clear choice. The offensive line has to do a better job, or Chad Morris has to call better-designed runs that give his freshman quarterback some confidence.
Reynolds has put the ball on the ground a few times, but that comes with the territory when you start a true freshman. The passing game is starting to slow down for him.
Now Clemson needs to let the run game catch up.
If that happens, the whole offense gets harder to defend. Defenses would have to respect Reynolds as a runner whenever Davidson isn’t on the field, and that can open up everything else - more space for the wide receivers, more chances to involve the tight ends, and more room for Reynolds to attack downfield after forcing defenders to react.
There’s also a workload angle here. If Morris wants to get to 40 combined carries in a game, Davidson needs his 20 touches, Reynolds needs his dozen, and the rest can fill in around them.
Getting Reynolds more involved on the ground would also help keep Davidson fresher and help Clemson wear down opposing defensive lines. The Tigers’ offensive line is better at road blocking than protecting the quarterback anyway.
For Clemson, the path is pretty simple. Once Reynolds starts making defenders miss with the ball in his hands, this offense has a chance to really move.
In Other News...
Clemson Secondary Faces Its Next Test After A Costly Defensive Loss
Clemsons secondary has been one of the steadier parts of a season that has not gone smoothly overall, and Corey Myrick has emerged as a notable presence after leading the team in tackles through five games. Coming out of the bye week, the Tigers are trying to reset their defense with Charleston Southern next on the schedule, while also sharpening the basics that have been a recurring issue, especially tackling and overall consistency.
The immediate challenge comes with a personnel change in the nickel spot, where Corian Gipson is out for the season after meniscus surgery. Auburn transfer Donovan Starr is expected to step in, which gives Clemson a new look in the middle of its defensive backfield at a time when the unit is still trying to stabilize itself. For a secondary that has carried more weight than expected, the next stretch will say a lot about how quickly it can absorb the loss and keep the defense from slipping further. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson's Playoff Future Comes With A Dabo Era Catch
The College Football Playoff could be on the verge of another major shift, and for Clemson it could change the path back to relevance in a hurry. A reported move from 12 teams to 24 starting in the 2027-28 season would open the door wider for programs that are still good enough to matter but not always elite enough to live near the top of the rankings, which is exactly the space Clemson has occupied more often lately.
For a program that built its modern identity around playoff runs, that kind of expansion comes with a catch. More access could mean more postseason appearances for Clemson, but it also risks making those trips feel less rare and less meaningful, especially if the field grows to the point where the standard is no longer what it used to be. The Tigers might benefit from the new format, but the bigger question is what that benefit says about where the program and the sport are headed. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Returns With One Chance To Look Ready For Whats Next
Clemson gets one more tune-up at Memorial Stadium on Saturday at noon, hosting Charleston Southern on the ACC Network in a game that offers a chance to reset the tone before the schedule turns sharper again. After a stretch in which health has been a major talking point, Dabo Swinney said the Tigers are trending in a better direction, and that matters as much as anything heading into this final look at game speed.
Kourtney Kelly, the transfer defensive tackle, is expected to make his Clemson debut, adding another body to a position group that can use the help. The Tigers should be able to handle Charleston Southern comfortably, but the real value here is less about the result and more about whether Clemson can leave the afternoon looking cleaner, healthier and a little more ready for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]