Three practices. That's how small the gap was between Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds when Clemson wrapped up spring football.Vizzina eventually earned the starting job heading into the season, but it didn't take long for that decision to change. With two games in the books, Dabo Swinney has handed the offense to Reynolds, who will make his first start when the Tigers host North Carolina on Saturday.
For Swinney, the decision came down to what the freshman showed once he got the chance to play."And now we've got two games, and we just feel like Tait has moved ahead," Swinney said. "And he, in extended play especially, now that you've gotten into some games, you saw some things. And he wasn't perfect, but you saw some things that we saw in the spring
that were like, okay, now you see it in real time."
Reynolds didn't come out of nowhere. He had been making his case for months, and the Tigers’ coaches entered the fall knowing there wasn't much separating their two quarterbacks."But we knew coming out of spring, it was going to be a competition," Swinney said. "And, you know, CV was probably about three practices ahead. We'd grade every play, every rep, every practice, and, you know, he was about three practices ahead. And so, you know, you run out of time. You've got to go play games."
Vizzina got the first opportunity against LSU, but his hold on the position was never guaranteed. Swinney had already warned that the veteran wasn't operating on a lifetime contract.After Vizzina's apparent injury and Reynolds' extended time on the field, the coaching staff had enough information to make a change. That doesn't mean Clemson has closed the door on Vizzina.
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"It's a tough situation, because you love these kids, you know? And I hadn't lost any faith in CV, you know? Not at all. I think we've got a good situation. I think we can win with either one of them," Swinney said.The timing gives Reynolds an immediate opportunity to establish himself. Clemson opens its ACC schedule against Bill Belichick's Tar Heels before traveling to California for a Friday night game.
Swinney understands the disappointment that comes with Vizzina losing the job, but he believes the freshman's work has made the decision clear."I mean, I'm CV's biggest fan. I was pulling for him," Swinney said. "You know, I'd love, I'd love for it to be, work out exactly the way we all want it to work out. But, you know, all we can do is show up and grade, evaluate, and make the decisions. So Tait has put himself in this position. Nobody gave it to him. He's put himself in the position."
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Dabo Swinney on Clemson starting Tait Reynolds over Christopher Vizzina
