Clemson football’s freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds wasn’t expected to be in this position when spring practice began, but by the time Clemson wrapped things up, the freshman had clearly changed the conversation in the quarterback room.
Coming off a high school career that ended early due to a hamstring injury, Reynolds arrived with far less hype than others in the group. That didn’t last long. By the spring game, he had already worked his way into the No. 2 role behind Chris Vizzina, taking snaps ahead of Chris Denson and making the most of the opportunity. Reynolds completed 7 of his 10 passes and added a rushing touchdown, flashing the kind of dual-threat ability that has quickly caught the coaching staff’s attention.
“Absolutely, absolutely,” Dabo Swinney said when asked if Reynolds could push for the starting job. “Ain’t nobody got lifetime contracts around here. Everybody has to prove it. Everybody has to show up. Everybody has to earn it.”
Reynolds’ rise didn’t happen overnight, but it also didn’t take long. Early in the spring, Denson was working with the second team, but once the Tigers returned from break, that pecking order had changed. Reynolds separated himself from a crowded group competing for that backup spot and never really looked back.
“There was a bunch of guys kind of battling for that second spot, and he cleared that. He came out of that smoke first, with that group,” Swinney said. “Now, he’s got a big summer ahead and he is just going to keep getting better.”
It’s important to note this isn’t about Vizzina slipping. The returning quarterback held onto the top spot throughout the spring and continues to show why he’s in that position. Reynolds’ push is more about his own rapid development than anything else.
“CV did not do anything to back up, he has not done anything to back up,” Swinney added. “But Tait has done everything to move forward.”
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Even with the momentum, taking over the starting job won’t come easy. Vizzina remains firmly in control heading into the offseason, and Clemson doesn’t have the benefit of preseason games to sort things out.
“But I don’t think CV is going to go backwards,” Swinney said. “It will be a great, competitive summer and fall camp, and then you go play games. We don’t get three preseason games. All we can do is evaluate based on practice.”
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney on Tait Reynolds in a QB competition
