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Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney and three of his players will make an appearance at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina.
However, projected starting quarterback Christopher Vizzina won't be among the players, marking the first time since 2019 that a Clemson quarterback won't attend the event.
Junior linebacker Sammy Brown, senior defensive end Will Heldt and senior tight end Olsen Patt-Henry will represent Clemson on July 16, the second day of the three-day event where coaches and players meet with the media.
The Tigers will be among five of 17 ACC teams that will not bring a quarterback to the event, joining Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Duke and UNC.
Swinney explained on July 14 that he picks two seniors, one on both sides of the ball, then the ACC requests players and he picks from the list.
"(The ACC) wanted Sammy Brown, so it's kind of how it goes," Swinney said at Clemson's media day. "There were a couple other names they threw out there, but I don't really worry about all that stuff."
Swinney said he and his staff chose Patt-Henry on offense and Heldt on defense. Then, the ACC had a list of "three or four guys" the conference wanted, and Swinney ultimately chose Brown.
"It's really not complicated. Not anything more than that," Swinney said.
Swinney did not say if the ACC requested Vizzina, a redshirt junior.
Clemson sent quarterback DJ Uiagalelei for two years (2021-22) and Cade Klubnik for three straight years (2023-25). The event was postponed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MORE: How Dabo Swinney said Clemson football struggles changed Tigers goals for 2026
In 2019, the Tigers only offensive lineman John Simpson and safety Tanner Muse but not sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Vizzina is the frontrunner to be Clemson's starting quarterback in 2026. He will open preseason practice at No. 1, but the team hasn't announced that he won the job as he will battle freshman Tait Reynolds.
Reynolds emerged as a challenger for Vizzina after becoming the No. 2 quarterback in spring practice, beating out Chris Denson, Trent Pearman and freshman Brock Bradley.
Brown, a former ACC defensive rookie of the year, earned All-America honors and was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2025 after recording a team-high 106 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks, one forced fumble, six pass deflections and one interception.
Brown has never missed a game in his career and is one of just 26 FBS players over the last 20 years to record at least five sacks and at least 10 tackles for loss as a freshman and a sophomore.
Heldt transferred from Purdue last season and recorded 46 tackles, including a team-high 7.5 sacks, forced one fumble and broke up two passes. He earned third-team All-ACC honors.
Patt-Henry thrived in his first year as a starter, recording 16 catches for 126 yards and making critical blocks in the run game.
All three days of ACC Kickoff will be held at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Clemson will be joined by Boston College, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse and Virginia Tech.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney explains why Clemson QB Christopher Vizzina isn't attending ACC Kickoff
Continue reading...
However, projected starting quarterback Christopher Vizzina won't be among the players, marking the first time since 2019 that a Clemson quarterback won't attend the event.
Junior linebacker Sammy Brown, senior defensive end Will Heldt and senior tight end Olsen Patt-Henry will represent Clemson on July 16, the second day of the three-day event where coaches and players meet with the media.
The Tigers will be among five of 17 ACC teams that will not bring a quarterback to the event, joining Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Duke and UNC.
Swinney explained on July 14 that he picks two seniors, one on both sides of the ball, then the ACC requests players and he picks from the list.
"(The ACC) wanted Sammy Brown, so it's kind of how it goes," Swinney said at Clemson's media day. "There were a couple other names they threw out there, but I don't really worry about all that stuff."
Swinney said he and his staff chose Patt-Henry on offense and Heldt on defense. Then, the ACC had a list of "three or four guys" the conference wanted, and Swinney ultimately chose Brown.
"It's really not complicated. Not anything more than that," Swinney said.
Swinney did not say if the ACC requested Vizzina, a redshirt junior.
Clemson sent quarterback DJ Uiagalelei for two years (2021-22) and Cade Klubnik for three straight years (2023-25). The event was postponed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MORE: How Dabo Swinney said Clemson football struggles changed Tigers goals for 2026
In 2019, the Tigers only offensive lineman John Simpson and safety Tanner Muse but not sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Vizzina is the frontrunner to be Clemson's starting quarterback in 2026. He will open preseason practice at No. 1, but the team hasn't announced that he won the job as he will battle freshman Tait Reynolds.
Reynolds emerged as a challenger for Vizzina after becoming the No. 2 quarterback in spring practice, beating out Chris Denson, Trent Pearman and freshman Brock Bradley.
Who Clemson football is bringing to ACC Kickoff
Brown, a former ACC defensive rookie of the year, earned All-America honors and was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2025 after recording a team-high 106 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks, one forced fumble, six pass deflections and one interception.
Brown has never missed a game in his career and is one of just 26 FBS players over the last 20 years to record at least five sacks and at least 10 tackles for loss as a freshman and a sophomore.
Heldt transferred from Purdue last season and recorded 46 tackles, including a team-high 7.5 sacks, forced one fumble and broke up two passes. He earned third-team All-ACC honors.
Patt-Henry thrived in his first year as a starter, recording 16 catches for 126 yards and making critical blocks in the run game.
All three days of ACC Kickoff will be held at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Clemson will be joined by Boston College, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse and Virginia Tech.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney explains why Clemson QB Christopher Vizzina isn't attending ACC Kickoff
Continue reading...
