Could the Clemson Tigers reunite with a former offensive coordinator for the 2026 college football season?
After the recent news of the Clemson Tigers’ firing of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, head coach Dabo Swinney is now on the hunt for his replacement in 2026. Luckily, one option is starting to gain traction due to his previous experience with the program.
USA Today’s Derrian Carter floated the idea of a potential reunion earlier this week to fill the offensive coordinator vacancy for next season.
"Morris served as Clemson's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2011 through 2014 before departing to be SMU's coach,” Carter wrote. “He was key to jumpstarting Clemson's offense early in Swinney's tenure, helping the Tigers average over 30 points for fourth straight years.”
Prior to his time with the Tigers, Morris was a successful offensive coach at Tulsa in 2010. His strong showing with the Golden Hurricanes paved the way for him to become Clemson’s offensive coordinator in 2011, which ultimately paid off for the program.
In his first season with the Tigers, Morris helped turn former quarterback Tajh Boyd and the rest of the offense into one of the best in the nation. Clemson ranked first in the ACC in passing yards per game (282.3) and second in total offensive yards per game (440.8).
Under the offensive guidance of Morris, the Tigers won three straight bowl games from 2012 to 2014. This includes a massive 40-6 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl.
Former Clemson quarterback Cole Stoudt threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, which was a perfect ending to Morris’s time with the program.
Following his time with the Tigers, the highly-touted offensive coordinator spent multiple seasons boucing around the NCAA, making stops at SMU, Arkansas, and Auburn.
Morris also returned to the state of South Carolina in 2023 as an offensive assistant for Clemson. But this year, Morris decided to take the year off to watch his son, Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris, play in his final college season.
Now, Morris could once again be the lifeline to jolt the program’s offensive struggles. Clemson was a middle-of-the-pack team in terms of offensive production in the ACC, and Morris’s experience could amplify the passing attack in 2026.