Clemson has a new quarterback, at least for this week.
Head coach Dabo Swinney named freshman Tait Reynolds his starting quarterback for Saturday’s nationally televised game against North Carolina.
Reynolds came off the bench for an injured Christopher Vizzina and led the Tigers to a 22-7 victory over Georgia Southern last Saturday. Swinney said Vizzina injured his left arm in the game and did not return because of the injury.
However, the Clemson coach clarified that Reynolds is not getting the start because Vizzina is injured.
“It’s how they played,” Swinney said. “We just feel, based on opportunity, mistakes and body of work, Tait has earned the opportunity to start.”
Swinney said Vizzina, despite national reports on Sunday that said he would be out for up to two weeks, will be available to play against the Tar Heels. National reporters posted Sunday afternoon Vizzina suffered an elbow injury.
“He’s got a left kind of arm injury, but (team doctors) feel like he’ll be available. So, we’ll see. That’s the information I was just given,” Swinney said.
Vizzina started Clemson’s first two games this season.
Reynolds, who will be making his first career start, completed 16 of 27 passes for 178 yards, and also ran for 36 yards in the victory over Georgia Southern. He led the Tigers on five for their six scoring drives.
Vizzina did throw a 10-yard TD pass to T.J. Moore on the Tigers’ second possession, but he also threw an interception on their next offensive possession after getting the football back. He did not return to the game because of the injury and completed just 4 of 7 passes for 19 yards.
“All I can tell you is (Reynolds) has played well enough and did enough stuff, and then CV did some things that he needs to be better at,” Swinney said. “The interception just can’t happen. The play was well designed and were it needed to be. He missed a play down in the red zone, just some things, it was just their body of work.
“We have been letting them compete and to play a couple of games and based on what we saw in the (Georgia Southern) game, Tait earned the opportunity to start this week. So, that’s where we are.”
As for Reynolds, Swinney says the freshman has earned the right to start, but it does not mean he has it all figured out either. He still made mistakes in the Georgia Southern game that he can’t make again.
“Obviously, he missed some pulls, and they were doing some stuff that was funky on the backend and taking some chances and stuff,” Swinney said. “There were some things that he will learn from as he sees it on tape. It was some basic routine stuff operationally, making sure the ride is what it is supposed to be. His foot work, getting the ball to his playmakers, getting the ball to the right spot, eyes on the right things and then just settling in.
“I think if he did that then the game will just slow down. We had a delay of game, just some process stuff that he will get better and better as he plays. Man, he made some big-time plays.”
What were those plays? A 20-yard pass to Tyler Brown on third down-and-20, that helped the Tigers kick a field goal just before halftime and then a 45-yard toss to Moore to set up another score in the second half.
“The throw to T.J., the throw to Tyler Brown, he made a couple of plays with his legs,” Swinney said. “Down on the goal line, he could have thrown a touchdown to (Christian) Bentancur or Tyler Brown. It was wide open. He read it outside in, instead of inside out. It is just some basic stuff that you coach him up, as he plays, because again he is a hard worker, he is going to get better and better for sure.
“He will see it on tape because he got fooled a couple of times because his eyes weren’t where they need to be and he missed a couple of opportunities for some shots. So, there are several things he needs to clean up, and it is our job to make sure we do that.”
The North Carolina game is scheduled to kick off at noon and will be televised by ESPN.