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CLEMSON — Clemson football’s offense will likely determine the Tigers’ success in 2026.
The issue is two of the most critical groups on Clemson’s offense are among the weakest.
The Tigers lost starting quarterback Cade Klubnik and four offensive line starters, including right tackle Blake Miller, who was taken in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Coach Dabo Swinney is relying on one of two unproven quarterbacks to be Clemson’s starter and four linemen who lack experience or are coming off of season-ending injuries.
Here are Clemson's worst position groups entering the season.
Swinney opted to not take a portal quarterback despite all five on his roster combining for just one start.
After spring practice, Clemson’s QB competition is down to redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds.
Vizzina, the front runner, made one career start against SMU last year. He completed 69% of his passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns against the Mustangs, but the offense was stagnant in the first half with him in as the Tigers scored just seven points.
Reynolds is a three-star signee. He is also coming off a season-ending hamstring injury that finished his senior year of high school. But he impressed Swinney during spring practice.
Both players being unknown commodities at football’s most important position makes this Clemson’s weakest group entering the season.
MORE: Clemson football's ceiling, floor in push to redeem Dabo Swinney's disappointing 2025
Clemson lost Miller, left tackle Tristan Leigh, center Ryan Linthicum and guard Walker Parks. The only remaining starter is Harris Sewell, who will play center this season.
Clemson's other projected offensive line starters are Brayden Jacobs (left tackle), Elyjah Thurmon (left guard), Collin Sadler (right guard) and Easton Ware (right tackle) after Swinney did not land an experienced portal lineman.
Sewell (17 starts in 35 games) and Sadler (15 in 28 games) have starting experience, and Thurmon (two in 11 games) and Jacobs (four in 10 games) have limited playing time but showed flashes to handle starting duties. Ware missed the 2025 season with a shoulder injury.
All except Sewell are coming off season-ending injuries.
Clemson’s offensive line wasn’t the best last season despite its experience. Still, the unknown on whether this likely starting combo will work is a question mark entering preseason practice.
Sammy Brown leads this group, but the depth behind him is a concern.
Clemson lost Luke Ferrelli, a Cal linebacker who was the ACC's defensive rookie of the year, to Ole Miss. He transferred to Clemson on Jan. 7, then re-entered the portal on Jan. 16 to transfer to Ole Miss on Jan. 22. This led to Swinney calling out the Rebels and coach Pete Golding for tampering.
An issue Swinney and his staff had with Ferrelli leaving was the Tigers canceled other visits with potential portal linebackers when he initially transferred to Clemson.
Behind Brown are Kobe McCloud, Jeremiah Alexander, C.J. Kubah-Taylor, Drew Woodaz, Logan Anderson and freshman Brayden Reilly.
All have combined for four starts with Alexander having three and McCloud starting once.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen is confident in where the position's depth is heading after spring practice, but it remains to be seen if those players will fit alongside Brown.
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: Why Dabo Swinney's hopes for 2026 rely on two of Clemson's weakest position groups
Continue reading...
The issue is two of the most critical groups on Clemson’s offense are among the weakest.
The Tigers lost starting quarterback Cade Klubnik and four offensive line starters, including right tackle Blake Miller, who was taken in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Coach Dabo Swinney is relying on one of two unproven quarterbacks to be Clemson’s starter and four linemen who lack experience or are coming off of season-ending injuries.
Here are Clemson's worst position groups entering the season.
Quarterback
Swinney opted to not take a portal quarterback despite all five on his roster combining for just one start.
After spring practice, Clemson’s QB competition is down to redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds.
Vizzina, the front runner, made one career start against SMU last year. He completed 69% of his passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns against the Mustangs, but the offense was stagnant in the first half with him in as the Tigers scored just seven points.
Reynolds is a three-star signee. He is also coming off a season-ending hamstring injury that finished his senior year of high school. But he impressed Swinney during spring practice.
Both players being unknown commodities at football’s most important position makes this Clemson’s weakest group entering the season.
MORE: Clemson football's ceiling, floor in push to redeem Dabo Swinney's disappointing 2025
Offensive line
Clemson lost Miller, left tackle Tristan Leigh, center Ryan Linthicum and guard Walker Parks. The only remaining starter is Harris Sewell, who will play center this season.
Clemson's other projected offensive line starters are Brayden Jacobs (left tackle), Elyjah Thurmon (left guard), Collin Sadler (right guard) and Easton Ware (right tackle) after Swinney did not land an experienced portal lineman.
Sewell (17 starts in 35 games) and Sadler (15 in 28 games) have starting experience, and Thurmon (two in 11 games) and Jacobs (four in 10 games) have limited playing time but showed flashes to handle starting duties. Ware missed the 2025 season with a shoulder injury.
All except Sewell are coming off season-ending injuries.
Clemson’s offensive line wasn’t the best last season despite its experience. Still, the unknown on whether this likely starting combo will work is a question mark entering preseason practice.
Linebacker
Sammy Brown leads this group, but the depth behind him is a concern.
Clemson lost Luke Ferrelli, a Cal linebacker who was the ACC's defensive rookie of the year, to Ole Miss. He transferred to Clemson on Jan. 7, then re-entered the portal on Jan. 16 to transfer to Ole Miss on Jan. 22. This led to Swinney calling out the Rebels and coach Pete Golding for tampering.
An issue Swinney and his staff had with Ferrelli leaving was the Tigers canceled other visits with potential portal linebackers when he initially transferred to Clemson.
Behind Brown are Kobe McCloud, Jeremiah Alexander, C.J. Kubah-Taylor, Drew Woodaz, Logan Anderson and freshman Brayden Reilly.
All have combined for four starts with Alexander having three and McCloud starting once.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen is confident in where the position's depth is heading after spring practice, but it remains to be seen if those players will fit alongside Brown.
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: Why Dabo Swinney's hopes for 2026 rely on two of Clemson's weakest position groups
Continue reading...
