A Look into the Offense
BY: Jackson Sexton
It’s that time of the year again! We are just over a month away from Clemson Tigers Football, and after a disappointing 7-6 (4-4 ACC) 2025 season, the Tigers are looking to flip the script on offense with some new faces, as well as familiar ones.
Leadership:
With the return of 2011-2014 OC Chad Morris, Clemson is looking to push the pace on offense with quick and aggressive playcalling. This means that preseason camp will push the Tigers to their limits and test their conditioning as they aim to filter out those who can keep up with this style of offense.
A Look into Each Position
Running Back:
Last season, RB Gideon Davidson stepped up to fill the void in the running back position, alongside Adam Randall, due to the injuries of both Jay Haynes and Jarvis Green. Davidson had 60 carries for 260 yards last season, breaking out and making him a contender for the RB1 spot. However, Clemson now has running back depth not only with the return of Haynes and Green but also with the transfer of SMU RB Chris Johnson Jr. Johnson Jr. had an outstanding season for the Mustangs last year, with 67 carries for 479 yards and 4 TDs, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He has also proven himself to be a dual threat, with receiving stats of 17 receptions for 180 yards and 1 TD. Being the youngest of the four running backs mentioned, Davidson will have to prove that he can keep up with Morris’s offense just as well as the seniors can.
Battle for QB1:
With this new style of offense, one might think that Tait Reynolds’s athletic build at 6’2 215 lbs. would make him a solid fit; however, Dabo proclaimed that Christopher Vizzina will have the QB1 position given his experience, work ethic, and his loyalty to the Clemson program amidst the transfer portal era. In addition, Dabo stated that the staff made the decision not to “go and get some shiny object at quarterback” through the transfer portal. All eyes are on Vizzina for this upcoming season, as he aims to show Tiger fans what Dabo and the staff see in him.
Wide Receiver:
Clemson has multiple wideouts looking for targets this season; however, the attention will be on WR Bryant Wesco Jr., who is looking to make a push after suffering a back injury against SMU. Despite being limited to 7 games, he had a promising first half of the season, grabbing 31 receptions for 537 yards and 6 TDs. His push is off to a good start, earning a spot on the 2026 Preseason All-ACC Team. Fellow junior T.J. Moore will try to maintain his status as a primary target on this offense after a solid performance last season with 52 receptions for 837 yards and 4 TDs. Senior receiver Tristan Smith must perform at the same level as his 2024 season, where he had 76 receptions for 934 yards and 6 TDs. This is a stark contrast compared to his 2025 performance, with only 24 receptions for 239 yards and 1 TD. Tyler Brown, who is also in his final season as a Tiger, must aid Clemson’s WR depth if not granted a starting position in case another WR gets injured, much like what occurred with Wesco Jr. last season.
Tight End:
The starting TE position will go to Christian Bentancur after a breakout performance last season, grabbing 20 receptions for 215 yards and 3 TDs, serving as a solid option for Klubnik during the absence of Wesco Jr. In addition, Olson Patt-Henry will make his return for his senior year after suffering a torn patellar tendon that cut his 2025 season two games short.
Offensive Line:
Dabo announced that the Tigers’ roster for this upcoming season will contain 22 offensive linemen. With most of the linemen being young talent (freshmen and sophomores) and of good size, Dabo finds this group promising and believes it will be a “really competitive” training camp. Naturally, these linemen will need to keep up with Morris’s offense and be prepared to protect the run.
With the confidence that the players and the staff have in this team, yielding results will be imperative this season to maintain the support of the Tiger fanbase after last season’s 7-6 (4-4 ACC) campaign. Clemson Sports News will cover various aspects of these practices throughout preseason camp, especially early on, when many popular questions will be answered.
