Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris says backup true freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds will be prepared if/when his number his called during Saturday’s season opener against No. 11 LSU.
While Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney officially named senior Christopher Vizzina the Week 1 starter, Swinney made it clear that Reynolds is “likely” to see snaps under center in Baton Rouge, though Swinney stopped short of guaranteeing that Reynolds will play against LSU.
On Wednesday, Morris commented on Reynolds potentially getting snaps in the LSU game, saying that Reynolds had a strong camp, possesses an “incredible arm” and will be ready to execute if his opportunity comes.
“I think Tait brings a unique talent,” Morris said. “If he gets his opportunity, we’ll see how it works out. But again, he’s a been a guy that’s had a really good camp, and got an incredible arm. He’s going to be prepared for whenever his opportunity comes into play, and I’m excited for him and what he could bring to the table.”
Swinney admitted there was a point during the QB battle when he thought Reynolds might win the job, but then the freshman had a couple of “disastrous” practice days, while Vizzina stayed steady and ultimately separated himself in the competition thanks to his consistency.
Morris was asked for his insight into when it was that Reynolds looked like he might be about to take ahold of the job, and what happened from that point.
Morris called the QB race “nip and tuck” throughout fall camp, and like Swinney, Morris pointed to Vizzina securing the job with his consistency on a day-to-day basis.
“I mean, it was nip and tuck, and they were continuing to battle each other,” Morris said. “But it was just what you like to see in your starter, is that when things got tough, [Vizzina] just kept pursuing and kept staying true to who he was — hey, let’s just take the easy things and be consistent, and that’s what you saw with him.”
Clemson and LSU are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.