Clemson Tigers quarterback Tait Reynolds may end up stealing the starting job.
The Clemson Tigers still have no clue whether or not Christopher Vizzina will be their clear starting quarterback going forward, which is why Dabo Swinney intends to play both Vizzina and Tait Reynolds for the second straight week.
Neither signal-caller was impressive in Clemson's 51-10 loss at the hands of LSU last Saturday, so the Tigers have zero clarity at the position.
The good news is that Clemson will get a bit of a reprieve this weekend, as it will face Georgia Southern in a game that it absolutely should win.
So, which quarterback will be taking the most snaps?
The prevailing thought is that it will be Vizzina, as he was the top quarterback on the depth chart heading into the season. But Jason Priester of The Clemson Insider has given a clear reason why Reynolds might actually be the superior option.
"Both quarterbacks are expected to play, but after what was seen in Baton Rouge regarding the offensive line, Reynolds might prove to be the better option due to his ability to extend plays with his legs. Vizzina just isn’t that type of runner," Priester wrote.
Clemson looked absolutely awful in the trenches last week, and while the Tigers should look better against a Group of 6 team this time around, you do have to wonder if Georgia Southern will be able to generate some pressure.
The fact that that is a concern shows just how far Clemson has fallen, but based on that logic, Reynolds might actually be the way to go. Not just against Georgia Southern, but possibly against every other team, as well.
Does that mean Reynolds is the better signal-caller than Vizzina? Absolutely not. We haven't seen anything that indicates that just yet. But he is definitely more athletic, which could play a role in Swinney's decision.
Reynolds is a true freshman and a former three-star recruit that Swinney clearly likes. He pushed Vizzina right up until the finish line in fall camp, and while that may say more about Vizzina than Reynolds, it does mean that the youngster is very close to supplanting Vizzina as QB1.
We'll see if this Saturday matchup provides any more transparency on the quarterback position for a Clemson team that appears thoroughly lost at the moment.
