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Dabo Swinney's top Clemson QB transfer portal options, and what about Chandler Morris?
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- Dabo Swinney's top Clemson QB transfer portal options, and what about Chandler Morris?
CLEMSON — Clemson football found its new offensive coordinator. Will a transfer portal quarterback be next?
Clemson hired Chad Morris again as its offensive coordinator on Jan. 5. He will be tasked with rejuvenating Clemson's offense after the unit regressed in 2025 despite having a talented quarterback and experienced players.
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"With the skill sets of our quarterbacks, I felt like he was the right fit for where we are right now and what I want to do," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said in a school release on Jan. 5.
The Tigers will have the option to enter the 2026 season with their current quarterbacks: Christopher Vizzina (one start in three years), Chris Denson (zero in one year), former walk-on Trent Pearman (zero in three years) and freshman signees Brock Bradley and Tait Reynolds. Or Clemson can land a portal quarterback to compete to be the team's starter.
If the latter happens, there are still quarterbacks available for Clemson to pursue before the portal closes Jan. 16.
Will Chandler Morris leave Virginia to follow his dad to Clemson?
Chad Morris sat out of coaching this season to watch his son, Chandler Morris, play quarterback at Virginia. He threw for 3,000 passing yards for 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions and rushed for five scores to help the Cavaliers make the ACC championship and set a program record with 11 wins.
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Chandler Morris attended middle school in the Clemson area when his dad was offensive coordinator from 2011-14. He is petitioning the NCAA for a seventh year of eligibility. He used a COVID season redshirt in 2020 and a standard four-games-or-less redshirt in 2021 at TCU after playing in four games.
He is attempting to get back his 2022 season when he played in three regular-season games, including starting in the Horned Frogs' season opener. He suffered an injury and was replaced by Max Duggan for the rest of the year. Morris made an appearance in the national championship game against Georgia , too, that season.
CLEMSON PORTAL UPDATES: Clemson football transfer portal live updates tracker for Dabo Swinney, 2026 roster
MORE: Inside Dabo Swinney's decision to hire Chad Morris as Clemson football OC, again
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If he is granted a seventh season, would he enter the portal to come to Clemson? An exit to Clemson would also mean leaving coach Tony Elliot, who coached with the Tigers from 2011-21.
From Clemson's side, would Swinney want a one-year rental or pursue another quarterback with more eligibility remaining? It's also unclear when Chandler Morris' appeal will be resolved, and it is extra dicey to wait on a resolution with the spring portal window gone.
Other transfer portal quarterback options for Clemson
According to 247Sports rankings, 14 of the top 20 quarterbacks in the portal have already chosen their new school.
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No transfer portal quarterbacks have been linked to Clemson so far.
Here are updates on the top remaining quarterbacks in the portal, according to various reports:
Sam Leavitt , Arizona State
Leavitt has visited Kentucky and LSU , and Miami appears to be in the mix. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Dylan Raiola , Nebraska
Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby's commitment took Texas Tech off the table. Raiola is still available as he rehabs a broken fibula suffered in November. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
DJ Lagway , Florida
He has visited Florida State and Virginia, but the former five-star recruit is keeping his options open. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
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Deuce Knight, Auburn
He is still on the market but is reportedly linked to Ole Miss , pending Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss ' NCAA waiver request for a medical redshirt. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Aidan Chiles , Michigan State
He has one year of eligibility remaining and is still available.
Beau Pribula , Missouri
He is linked to Georgia Tech and Stanford and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football QB targets could include OC's son, Chandler Morris
