Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said in late January that he is the one who made the decision not to sign a transfer quarterback this offseason, and that rising redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina – who has served as Cade Klubnik’s backup for multiple years – entered spring practice in the “pole position” to take over as the Tigers’ starter in 2026.

Vizzina met with the media following Monday’s practice and commented on Clemson not bringing in a transfer QB, saying he “wasn’t sure” if Swinney and the Tigers were going to add a signal-caller from the portal ahead of the 2026 season.

However, according to Vizzina, it wouldn’t have mattered to him if Clemson did end up signing a portal QB. He says he would have stayed in Tigertown even if a transfer QB joined the Tigers’ roster.

“I wasn’t sure what was going to happen at the time, but I believe that we didn’t need to get one [a transfer QB],” Vizzina said. “Because I believe in myself and the rest of the team, and the development we had over the past year.”

“And then, I didn’t really – it wasn’t going to matter either way,” he added. “If they brought someone in, I was still going to stay because I care about Clemson. … Like, I just want to compete and I want to be the quarterback for Clemson University. Bottom line.”

Before enrolling at Clemson in January 2023, Vizzina was ranked among the nation’s top prospects in the 2023 recruiting class. The high four-star had more than 30 offers, including from some of the best football programs in the country.

Heading into 2026 after his first three years at Clemson from 2023-25, Vizzina has completed 61 percent of his passes for 596 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in 238 career offensive snaps across 14 games, while also rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries.

This past season, Vizzina appeared in five games, including one start, and altogether completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns with one interception, while also rushing for 41 yards on 25 carries.

He made his first career start vs. SMU at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 18, as Klubnik missed the contest after suffering a sprained ankle in the Tigers’ game at Boston College one week earlier. In the 35-24 loss to SMU, Vizzina completed 29-of-42 passes for 317 yards with three touchdowns and a pass efficiency rating of 156.0. He did not throw an interception, though he fumbled twice and lost one of them.

Along with Vizzina, other quarterbacks on Clemson’s 2026 roster include Chris Denson, who will be a redshirt freshman this coming season, and former walk-on Trent Pearman, who will be a redshirt senior. Clemson also signed a pair of quarterbacks in its 2026 recruiting class – four-star Tait Reynolds and three-star Brock Bradley.

Vizzina has remained committed to Clemson while biding his time and waiting three years for the chance to be the Tigers’ starting quarterback — an opportunity he hopes to make the most of this year.

“A lot of people [can say], oh, I wasn’t ready, that’s why I stayed,” Vizzina said. “No, I want to be here. I want to be at Clemson. I want to be a Clemson Tiger. That’s why I’m here. It wouldn’t matter if they brought someone else in here. I was going to be here regardless.”