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Chad Morris gives update on Clemson quarterback competition, Christopher Vizzina
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- Chad Morris gives update on Clemson quarterback competition, Christopher Vizzina
CLEMSON — Clemson football has not named a starting quarterback for 2026, but new offensive coordinator Chad Morris says Christopher Vizzina is still the frontrunner.
"Coming out of spring, CV is our guy," Morris said March 25 after Clemson 's 12th spring practice. "But there's still competition. No one signed a lifetime contract."
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Morris said he has been impressed with how Vizzina's comfort level has progressed when learning the new offense. Vizzina has been in the "pole position," receiving first-team reps first after sitting behind Cade Klubnik for three years, since the start of spring practice.
Vizzina is battling redshirt freshman Chris Denson , freshmen Tait Reynolds and Brock Bradley, and graduate student Trent Pearmanto be the team's starter in 2026.
All are learning Morris' new offense that emphasizes tempo and big plays either through the air or on the ground. He said each was "drinking water through a firehouse" when the Tigers started spring practice but have improved over 11 practices and one scrimmage.
"Have they mastered it? No, they haven't mastered it," Morris said. "But have they gotten better? Yeah, they have, but I want to keep them uncomfortable, too."
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Can freshman Tait Reynolds beat out Christopher Vizzina for Clemson starting QB?
Vizzina is Clemson's most experienced player, playing in 14 games and making one start, which came in 2025 against SMU with Klubnik out. All the other quarterbacks have combined for eight appearances and no starts.
Reynolds, 6-foot-2 three-star signee who weighs 215 pounds, has emerged as a contender to push Vizzina. Reynolds was working with the second-team offense during Clemson's tempo period on March 23 when media was allowed to watch.
During the last media viewing period on March 2, Denson was taking snaps with the second team.
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Morris said there's "great competition" in Clemson's quarterback room despite Vizzina still leading.
"Tait's done a really good job this spring, and it was his day to, kind of, get those reps," Morris said. "I've been pleased with all our guys, but Tait has gotten several reps with the 2s, as we've rotated those around as well with all our guys. But it was his day. He's done a really good job of growing."
What Chad Morris wants to see from quarterbacks in Clemson spring game
Clemson will have its spring game on March 28 (1 p.m. ET) at Memorial Stadium.
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For the scrimmage to be successful for Clemson quarterbacks, Morris said he wants all "commanding the offense and responding to adversity." He added that he wants the entire offense to clean up procedural penalties that were noticeable in the team's scrimmage on March 11.
Another area of growth Morris wants to see from his quarterbacks at the spring game and in the summer is accuracy on vertical throws.
"We're working on that. That's something that we've got to continue to stress through the course of the summer," Morris said.
Morris said that when Clemson's top wide receivers return healthy, including Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore , it'll help the quarterbacks improve in that area, too.
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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 QB competition update on Christopher Vizzina from Chad Morris
