Will Clemson pursue a transfer portal quarterback in 2026? What Dabo says
The biggest question surrounding Clemson football’s 2026 roster is obvious: Will the Tigers pursue a starter-level quarterback out of the transfer portal?
Tigers coach Dabo Swinney gave his first public thoughts on that pressing issue Wednesday during his early national signing day news conference.
With Clemson senior quarterback and three-year starter Cade Klubnik set to graduate this season and leave the school, the Tigers have a big gap at the most important position on their roster ... and some iffy in-house options.
Swinney indicated for the first time Wednesday that Clemson could stand pat in the transfer portal and stick with the QBs it already has on its roster to determine the 2026 starter. But he did not explicitly rule out pursuing a transfer at the position.
Clemson’s current quarterback group most notably includes redshirt sophomore Christopher Vizzina, Klubnik’s backup since 2023, and true freshman Chris Denson.
The team also signed two 2026 quarterback recruits Wednesday: three-star Arizona QB Tait Reynolds and three-star Alabama QB Brock Bradley. Reynolds ranks as the nation’s No. 27 QB recruit in the 2026 class. Bradley is No. 107.
Asked directly if he plans to take a transfer quarterback, Swinney said: “I mean, we just signed two (high school recruits) to come compete, and we’ve got Denson here to compete, and we’ve got CV, who’s really only played one true game from a start standpoint, who’s here to compete.”
Faith in Vizzina, but can he be the guy?
Swinney spoke highly of Vizzina, who threw for 317 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a loss to Duke (while losing a fumble) when Klubnik missed a game this season with an ankle injury. Vizzina is a former top 100 recruit.
While he moved the ball well vs. Duke, Vizzina has been inefficient and looked flustered at times in other spot appearances for Clemson this season.
“We only offered two quarterbacks in his class, him and Arch Manning,” Swinney said of Vizzina. “Those were only two we offered, and we beat a lot of people to get him. And this kid’s done his part, and he’s been waiting his time, and now it’s his time. Now he’s gotta win the job. I mean, he’s obviously kind of where you start.”
Swinney also mentioned Denson as a potential 2026 starting quarterback for Clemson. The one-time Coastal Carolina commitment dazzled fans by throwing for 22 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown in a recent home win against FCS Furman — exclusively in the fourth quarter.
“Same thing with Denson,” Swinney said. “Denson didn’t come here to just stand on the sideline. He came here to compete. So, let’s go compete.”
Swinney also noted that Reynolds, who is signing with Clemson as a two-sport athlete and plans to play baseball, is skipping baseball during his first semester because he wants to compete for the football team’s 2026 starting job.
Choosing whether or not to pursue a transfer portal quarterback could be a transformative decision for Swinney and his staff on the heels of Clemson’s worst season since 2010. The Tigers went 7-5 and 4-4 in the ACC.
Big QB decision awaits Clemson, Dabo
Clemson and Vizzina have been equally loyal to one another, but do the Tigers truly have enough film, on-field data and confidence to roll him out as the all-in starter in Week 1 on the road against LSU in Baton Rouge? And for the entire 2026 season?
Given Swinney’s hints that Clemson will lean into the portal more heavily this offseason to address transfer, NFL and graduation departures, it’s only naturally to wonder if those transfer evaluations could lean into quarterback as well.
Clemson faced a similar call to get a transfer quarterback after Klubnik had a poor first year as starter in 2023. Swinney stuck to his guns, rolled with Klubnik and was rewarded with a great 2024 season and a College Football Playoff appearance.
In the past, Clemson has signed transfer QBs, but they’ve been exclusively third-stringers and deep backups: Northwestern’s Hunter Johnnson (who’d already played at Clemson) in 2022, and Alabama’s Paul Tyson in 2023.
Could circumstances change from now to when the portal opens in January and prompt Swinney and Clemson to go harder for a transfer quarterback? Clemson’s coach didn’t shoot down the possibility, but he kept things vague.
“Who knows?” Swinney said. “Guys may change your decision. We could have somebody leave. I mean, we have no idea. Have no idea. Again, I don’t speculate on that. All I can focus on is what’s here.”
“And we just signed two great quarterbacks, and we’ve got two on this roster that all of them want to be the guy. And we’ll see how it all plays out.”
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 1:32 PM.
