The Clemson Tigers lost veteran quarterback Cade Klubnik to the NFL Draft after a season that ended with a 7-6 record. Head coach Dabo Swinney acted swiftly after the Tigers’ Pinstripe Bowl loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions, firing offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and hiring Chad Morris in his place.
Despite Klubnik’s departure, Swinney and Morris opted not to sign an experienced quarterback via the transfer portal, instead relying on their existing quarterback room.
Chad Morris Names Christopher Vizzina as Clemson’s Starting Quarterback
While speaking to reporters after spring practice on Wednesday, Morris revealed that sophomore quarterback Christopher Vizzina had won the battle to be the Tigers’ QB1 for next season.
“At every position people compete, you know,” Morris said. “I think coming out of the spring, CV is our guy. But there is still competition. No one has signed a lifetime contract. We want competition at every position, all across the board. So, there are no days off when it comes to this.”
Tait Reynolds worked with the second team during spring practice last week, and Morris addressed the freshman’s competition with Vizzina for Clemson’s starting quarterback job.
“I think we got great competition going on right now with our quarterback situation. I really do,” Morris said. “I think they have all taken the steps in the right direction. CV is our top guy, and he has gotten the reps there and has really progressed. I have been really pleased with the way he has proceeded and grew this spring.”
“I have been really impressed with how he has progressed, as the whole team has, offensively, and how he has progressed as a quarterback and his comfort level. So, yeah, he has. He has truly progressed. I have been really pleased watching him through the course of this spring.”
Vizzina redshirted his first season at Clemson in 2023 and has played 14 times for the Tigers, including one start. He has completed 64-of-105 passes for 596 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
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He will have huge shoes to fill after Klubnik earned a PFSN College QB Impact score of 79.2 after tallying 3,639 passing yards, resulting in 36 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 463 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Reynolds is a four-star prospect and the No. 11-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2026, choosing the Tigers over offers from the Florida State Seminoles and the Arizona State Sun Devils.
He missed his senior year with a hamstring injury but managed 2,298 passing yards, 22 touchdowns,, and five interceptions, while adding 1,426 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns to show off his dual-threat ability the previous season.
In addition to Reynolds, Swinney also managed to recruit class of 2026 quarterback Brock Bradley to add depth to the Tigers’ quarterback room next season.
