Dabo Swinney, Clemson Add to 2027 Class With 3-Star LB

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers continue to add to their 2027 class, as three-star linebacker RJ Hudson has committed to the program.

Hudson chose Clemson over Maryland and could be a key piece for the Tigers' defense in the future.

In the 2025 season at Varina High School, Hudson finished with 45 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, two PBU's, two forced fumbles, and an interception. 

It was pivotal for Swinney and Clemson to put together a strong 2027 class after a disappointing season in 2025. The Tigers went 7-6 and fell far short of their expectations of making it to the College Football Playoff.

It was a surprising result for the season, as Clemson had a ton of talent on the roster, with nine of their players being drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

That will make the 2026 season a challenge for the Tigers as they will need to replace plenty of starters. The biggest question mark is the quarterback position, as Cade Klubnik has moved on to the New York Jets, and Swinney has yet to name a starter.

Klubnik was a three-year starter for Clemson and completed 64 percent of his passes for 10,123 yards, 73 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions, and rushed for 878 yards and 17 touchdowns.

To replace Klubnik, the Tigers will start Christopher Vizzina or Tait Reynolds. Vizzina is entering his junior year and is the favorite to land the job, but he doesn't have much on-field experience.

In 14 games, Vizzina has completed 64 of 105 passes (61 percent) for 596 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception while rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown.

The other option is Reynolds, a true freshman with more upside than Vizzina. 

While the quarterback position will be crucial to Clemson's performance in 2026, they will also be leaning on two new coaches, as they brought in Chad Morris for his second stint as the offensive coordinator and hired Rich Bisaccia as the special teams coordinator.

The Tigers have a lot of question marks heading into the 2026 season, but the 2027 class is promising, as they've landed a ton of talent, including the recent commitment from Hudson.

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