Christopher Vizzina's wait is over.
Clemson has named Vizzina its starting quarterback for the Tigers' Sept. 5 season opener at LSU, giving the junior the first opportunity to succeed Cade Klubnik after an offseason competition with freshman Tait Reynolds.
Dabo Swinney made the announcement during his weekly press conference.
“CV will start for us this week. He’s earned that,” Swinney said. “It’s been a competition. CV’s just a little bit ahead. He’s not a mile ahead, but he’s ahead. Practice matters.”
Vizzina spent his first three seasons at Clemson behind Klubnik, appearing in five games last season and completing 45 of 71 passes for 406 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Rather than entering the transfer portal in search of a quicker route to a starting job, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior from Birmingham, Ala., waited and now gets his chance.
His most extensive opportunity came against SMU last year when Klubnik was unavailable. In the first start of his Clemson career, Vizzina threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns for the Tigers on 29-of-40 passing.
Still, Clemson entered preseason camp with competition at quarterback. New offensive coordinator Chad Morris identified Vizzina as the Tigers' No. 1 quarterback entering camp, while Swinney maintained that Reynolds remained in contention for the job.
Reynolds, a freshman from Queen Creek, Ariz., emerged as Vizzina's primary challenger. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback could certainly see the field if necessary.
“I will say this about Tait: this kid is a true freshman walking in here, and he is really super talented. I’m not going to guarantee he will play, but it’s probably likely. The good news is I think both of them can win for Clemson,” Swinney stated.
Ultimately, Vizzina held off the freshman and will make his second career start in one of college football's most difficult road environments.
Last year, under Klubnik, the Clemson offense managed only 261 total yards against LSU, including a paltry 31 rushing yards, and was shut out in the second half. It’s largely believed that former OC Garrett Riley’s scheme was a huge part of the Tigers’ issues on offense.
This time Clemson enters the matchup with a different quarterback and a different offensive direction under Morris.
Vizzina won't be starting from scratch around him. With the return of receivers like T.J. Moore, Bryant Wesco Jr., and Tyler Brown, there are weapons available in the downfield passing game.
But the spotlight in Baton Rouge will inevitably fall on the quarterback who waited three years for his opportunity.
Vizzina now has it.
— Swanny
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