Clemson Tigers skip QB at ACC Kickoff as Vizzina, Reynolds battle heats up

Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney made waves this week by sending no quarterback to ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, the first time since 2019 the Tigers skipped a QB at the league’s media showcase.

What happened?

Clemson will be represented by senior tight end Olsen Patt-Henry, senior defensive end Will Heldt and junior linebacker Sammy Brown at ACC Kickoff on Thursday. The Tigers are one of five ACC teams not bringing a quarterback to the event, joining Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Duke and North Carolina.

Swinney said the ACC’s football communications director gave him a short list of players to pick from, and he chose Brown after Clemson’s seniors were selected first. The conference cut the number of allowed players from four to three this year.

Why it matters for Clemson Tigers

The absence of a quarterback spotlights the competition between redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina and true freshman Tait Reynolds. Vizzina enters fall camp as the presumed Week 1 starter, but Swinney hasn’t named him officially.

Reynolds pushed past two other freshmen in spring practice to claim the QB2 role. Swinney insisted the decision isn’t a big deal, joking Tuesday that he hadn’t even heard the fuss.

What comes next?

Clemson opens the 2026 season at LSU on September 5. The Tigers will name their starting quarterback before then, but the QB battle remains wide open.

Swinney’s history of sending seniors to ACC Kickoff dates back to 2019, when he sent offensive lineman John Simpson instead of sophomore Trevor Lawrence. Simpson even wore a blond wig to mimic Lawrence’s hair at the event.