Former Clemson quarterback finds new home at FCS football program
Hunter Helms has found his next college football home.
Rhode Island, an Division I FCS program, announced Friday it had signed Helms as a transfer with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Helms spent four seasons at Clemson and was the top backup to starter Cade Klubnik this season. He’d entered the portal Nov. 28 seeking more playing time, which he’ll figure to get with the Rams, who compete in the FCS Coastal Athletic Association, a step below Clemson.
“Hunter is a dual-threat quarterback with experience at the highest level in a nationally-prominent FBS program,” Patrick Murphy, URIs’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, said in a release. “He brings great size and has a big, extremely accurate arm. His game is also bolstered by his high football IQ and he will offer elite leadership skills to our locker room.”
Helms walked on at Clemson in 2020 despite holding scholarship offers from schools including South Florida and Troy, who compete at the FBS level. He was awarded a scholarship later in his tenure and ended his Tigers career having appeared in nine games over four seasons and completing 22 of 37 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns in mop-up duty.
Helms, a West Columbia native who played in-state at Gray Collegiate Academy, beat out Alabama/Arizona State transfer Paul Tyson and true freshman Christopher Vizzina for Clemson’s No. 2 quarterback position behind Klubnik. But he didn’t take any significant snaps in 2023, as Klubnik was never benched or injured.
Rhode Island went 6-5 and 4-4 in the CAA last season. The Rams were in need of quarterback as last year’s starter, Kasim Hill, is graduating. Hill threw for 3,074 yards in 2023.
Clemson football 2023 transfers
- QB Hunter Helms, Nov. 28 (Rhode Island)
- OL Mitchell Mayes, Nov. 29 (Charlotte)
- WR Beaux Collins, Nov. 30 (Notre Dame)
- TE Sage Ennis, Nov. 30 (Florida A&M)
- CB Toriano Pride Jr., Nov. 30 (Missouri)
- RB Domonique Thomas, Dec. 4 (Georgia State)
- S Andrew Mukuba, Dec. 5 (Texas)
- DE David Ojiegbe, Dec. 5 (Pittsburgh)
- WR Brannon Spector, Jan. 2
This story was originally published January 5, 2024 at 7:02 PM.
