Tait Reynolds Earns Starting Nod Against North Carolina as Clemson QB Competition Shifts

Clemson’s quarterback competition has a new leader.

Dabo Swinney announced Sunday that Tait Reynolds will start when Clemson opens ACC play against North Carolina, giving the freshman his first career start after an extended opportunity against Georgia Southern.

“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 announcement comes with an important wrinkle.

Christopher Vizzina suffered a left arm injury during the first half against Georgia Southern, an injury that ultimately prevented Clemson from continuing with its planned quarterback rotation.

Swinney said Vizzina took a hit during the first half and later told the coaching staff he could not really feel his left arm.

Clemson had planned to return Vizzina to the game after Reynolds received several series, but the injury changed those plans.

“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 makes the evaluation of Clemson’s quarterback competition somewhat complicated. Reynolds received an extended opportunity Saturday night, while Vizzina’s chance to respond was cut short by the injury.

Still, Swinney was adamant Sunday that the decision to start Reynolds against North Carolina was based on performance rather than Vizzina’s health.

Asked directly whether Vizzina’s injury factored into 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 pushed back on reports that Vizzina would miss multiple weeks because of the injury.

“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.”

Swinney said Vizzina is expected to enter the week as Reynolds’ backup. 

Whether the move represents a permanent resolution to Clemson’s quarterback competition remains unanswered.