CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney always believed he’d found a hidden gem in Chris Denson.

The left-handed signal caller flipped to the Tigers late in the 2025 recruiting cycle, after having been committed to Coastal Carolina. Pitt and Minnesota both offered the Plant City (FL) product, with Florida State and Notre Dame both showing some late interest as well.

Denson signed with the Tigers, knowing full well he was likely looking at a redshirt season, seeing as Cade Klubnik was fully entrenched as the starter and Chris Vizzina as the backup. With Trent Pearman as the number three quarterback and Denson viewed as still being somewhat raw coming out of high school, there was no reason to waste a year of eligibility.

However, while Denson might have arrived on campus in January knowing he wasn’t likely to see any meaningful reps this season, he still put his head down and went to work. The transformation has been extremely noticeable.

“I have not seen somebody develop in one year like he has since I’ve been here,” Klubnik said. “It’s been really incredible just to see from where he was in January to where he is in December. He’s a great athlete. He can spin it. But just the knowledge of the game. Nobody really knows a lot of college ball until they really get here, and it’s different. It’s different at every level. But just the way that he has just come every single day — he’s just attacked every day.”

Despite redshirting, Denson has appeared in two games. He carried the ball one time in his debut for two yards in the loss to SMU, a game Klubnik missed with an injury. He then had his coming outn party against Furman, rushing for more than 100 yards in the fourth quarter of the win over the Paladins.

His ability to make plays with his legs has never been in question. He is certainly electric with the ball in his hands. It’s the passing game where most say he needed work, and it’s in that area that Klubnik has seen the most growth.

“From January to now, just his release and his mechanics, it’s gotten really good,” Klubnik added. “And it’s been really cool to see him just attack it and want to know more and want to grow.”

As a senior and the veteran in that room, Klubnik has done what he can to accelerate Denson’s growth, and the outgoing quarterback fully believes the future is bright for Clemson’s southpaw signal caller.

“I’ve got four years of experience that I’m able to pour into him,” Klubnik said. “My job is to just continue to lean in and pour into him. And he’s just made so much progress. Makes quick decisions, but mechanic-wise and everything, it’s been really fun to see. He’s going to be a great player, and he’s going to be a great leader. I’m really, really excited for him.”