In less than three weeks, Clemson is going to open its season at LSU, a place where the home team Tigers seldom lose, especially at night. It also does not help that Clemson will go into Baton Rouge, La., with a new quarterback.
Unfortunately, for Clemson, it still does not know who that is going to be. The Tigers held their first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., and it does not appear head coach Dabo Swinney is any closer to naming a starter at the most important position on the field.
“We might wait until Tiger Walk to see who walks at Tiger Walk,” Swinney said jokingly but somewhat serious following the scrimmage.
Swinney indicated he might wait until it is time to put someone on the field at Tiger Stadium. Regardless of what he does, the competition between senior Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds continues to be a close one.
“They are competing their butts off,” he said.
After Saturday’s scrimmage, Swinney reported that both quarterbacks threw touchdown passes. There is also a video on Clemson Football’s social media accounts that show wide receiver Bryant Wesco going up and making a catch on what appears to be a long pass play.
According to Swinney, both quarterbacks played well in the first scrimmage of fall camp. Not only did they throw the ball well, but they also ran it well too.
“They are both very capable [runners],” Swinney said. “Tait can run, run, run. He can go score. CV can go get you a big chain mover.”
Overall, Swinney says the play of all of his quarterbacks—Trent Pearman, Brock Bradley and Colson Brown—was solid. Bradly, a freshman, threw a long TD pass to freshman receiver Cam Blivens, which can be seen in the video below.
“I thought they all did a really nice job,” the Clemson coach said. “There was nothing that disappointed me, as far as their ability to run the offense and their ability to make plays. We had a couple of miscues with a turnover due to the timing of the snap and the motion.
“We had one pick, but it was a great play by the defender. But they did some good things. They all made big plays. They all threw touchdowns.”
The one interception came on a pass that linebacker Drew Woodaz stepped in front of and took it to the house for a touchdown. According to Swinney, it was the only interception the quarterbacks threw in the scrimmage, but he did not report who threw the interception.
Clemson heads into the final week of camp looking for answers at the quarterback position. What happens from this point going forward might be revealed after the football is kicked off in Baton Rouge on Sept. 5.
–photo courtesy of Clemson Athletics