The race is on for Clemson’s lone quarterback spot in the 2028 class.
About two weeks after the conclusion of Dabo Swinney’s high school camp, the Tigers offered two signal-callers, both of whom worked out at camp.
Three-star Trey Wright (Lone Star, TX) was the first to land an offer. Some observers at camp believe the 5-foot-11 prospect was the most dynamic quarterback to roll through that week.
“It means everything,” Wright recently told TCI. “Clemson has a great history with quarterbacks, so being the first QB they offered in my class is really special. It shows they believe in what I can bring to the program, and that’s something I don’t take for granted.”
Wright made his first visit to campus back in the spring before making an appearance at the camp.
Four-star Trace Hawkins (Calhoun, GA) was the second quarterback to nab an offer, picking his up the same day as Wright. Hawkins also worked out at camp and, like Wright, was certainly one of the best signal callers to participate.
Hawkins has been on the Tigers’ radar since before Chad Morris was rehired, having first visited for a game last season. He also made two visits during the spring, coming for the spring game and then returning for the spring elite day in April.
To this point, Hawkins has developed quite the bond with quarterbacks coach Tajh Boyd.
“It is a great relationship. We talk on the daily,” Hawkins recently told TCI. “We talk about football stuff, but it isn’t always about football, also about life in general. We have a great relationship.”
So, two quarterbacks and one spot, meaning the race is on. In each of the past two recruiting cycles, Clemson has had its quarterback on board before the end of July. Tait Reynolds in the 2025 class and Kharim Highley in the 2026 class — both committed in the month of July.
While both Wright and Hawkins have released their list of finalists, neither appears quite ready to pull the trigger on a commitment. Both have gone on record saying they want to at least take a few more visits in the fall. Hawkins is planning to be in Baton Rouge for the season opener against LSU, another one of his top schools.
Hawkins has said it was Clemson and LSU setting the pace in his recruitment, but Lane Kiffin’s program currently has six other offers out to uncommitted quarterbacks in the class, including five-star Christopher Vargas and four-star Donald Tabron II, two of the top five signal callers in the class. While Hawkins is without question one of Clemson’s top two targets at the position, can the same be said for his standing on LSU’s board?
It’s a safe bet that the Tigers eventually land one of these quarterbacks. It’s clear that both players are high on Clemson. The only question is which one decides to jump on board first.
