CLEMSON — When Tait Reynolds camped at Clemson in the summer of 2024, he would leave as the Tigers’ top target at the position in the 206 recruiting class.

By the end of that summer, he was committed, and over the next 18 months, the four-star talent out of Queen Creek High School (AZ) never wavered, despite Clemson’s 7-5 record this season.

On Wednesday, Reynolds was one of two quarterbacks to officially sign with the Tigers, and Dabo Swinney believes the incoming freshman has a bright future ahead of him.

“This is one of the most unique kids I have recruited,” Swinney said. “This is a special talent.”

Watching Reynolds work out at camp, there is no doubting his arm talent, so it should come as no surprise that it was one of the things Swinney mentioned when talking about his skillset.

Reynolds is a two-sport standout who also excels on the baseball diamond. Initially, many believed his future would center around baseball. He was originally committed to play baseball at Arizona State. Although the more football he played, the more apparent it became that he possessed the tools to be a high-level quarterback.

Shortly after picking up his offer from Clemson, Reynolds backed off that commitment to the Sun Devils. Colorado, North Carolina, Miami, Texas A&M and Oklahoma were just a handful of the close to 30 football offers he ultimately landed for football.

“He is a hard guy to describe,” Swinney added. “He can fly. He is big, he is strong, he has a cannon for an arm. For this kid to come all the way from Arizona because he trusts me — he could have gone anywhere, but it was just the right fit. He’s not been a quarterback camp guy, elite baseball player, as well. But Tait is an elite, elite talent in every aspect of it.”

Reynolds has been very open about his desire to play both sports at the collegiate level, and those plans remain in place. But despite being an early enrollee, don’t expect to see the quarterback on Erik Bakich’s baseball roster during the coming season. Maybe in 2027.

With the quarterback job wide open, Reynolds is coming with eyes on winning it. Considering a hamstring injury basically robbed him of his entire senior season in high school, Reynolds is itching to get back at it and battle for that open QB spot.

“I think that is down the road, but he is coming midyear to compete,” Swinney said of Reynolds’ baseball plans. “We got some dudes on this campus that all want to be the guy. That is what they came here for.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright