Overview
- Coach Dabo Swinney announced Tuesday that true freshman Tait Reynolds will start Saturday’s ACC opener against North Carolina after earning the job through recent game performance.
- Reynolds moved ahead after relieving Vizzina at Georgia Southern, when he completed 16-of-27 passes for 178 yards and added 36 rushing yards while directing five scoring drives.
- Swiney said the decision was based on grading plays and body of work rather than solely on Christopher Vizzina’s left-arm issue, and team doctors expect Vizzina to be available as the probable backup.
- The switch pushes a 1-1 Clemson offense that ranks near the bottom in early efficiency to rely on a freshman starter in Death Valley against a Bill Belichick-coached North Carolina defense.
- The move is temporary in tone from the staff and carries weight for Clemson’s short-term direction because the program is seeking more consistent offensive production after a lopsided opening loss and uneven follow-up win.