Clemson has plenty to improve offensively, but its freshman quarterback has earned national recognition while learning on the job.
Tait Reynolds landed at No. 22 in ESPN’s ranking of college football’s top 25 freshmen, with analyst Billy Tucker pointing to the responsibility Reynolds has handled early in his career.
Reynolds took over after Christopher Vizzina was injured against Georgia Southern and helped Clemson secure the victory. He followed that performance with wins over North Carolina and Cal in his first two starts before facing No. 4 Miami.
The Hurricanes handed Clemson a 41-13 loss, but Reynolds finished with a career-best 295 passing yards while completing 29 of 44 attempts. He also committed two turnovers as the Tigers struggled to
turn sustained drives into points.
Tucker’s assessment emphasized Reynolds’ ability to keep Clemson competitive despite modest production and the challenges that come with playing a freshman at quarterback.
There is still considerable room for growth. Reynolds ranks No. 125 nationally in ESPN’s QBR and has thrown one touchdown pass against three interceptions in 128 attempts. He is averaging 163.2 passing yards per game and has been sacked 16 times through five appearances.
College football analyst believes Dabo Swinney has ‘lost his magic’
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Clemson’s next game offers Reynolds another opportunity to build on that experience. The Tigers host Charleston Southern on Oct. 17, when he is set to make his fourth career start.
For Clemson, the recognition is an encouraging individual development as the offense continues searching for more consistent production.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson starting quarterback ranked among college football’s Top 25 freshman
