FOOTBALL IS BACK: CLEMSON OPENS CAMP WITH QUESTIONS TO ANSWER AND A SEASON TO BUILD
By Gary McDaniel | Clemson Sports News
The wait is nearly over.
Clemson football will hold its first preseason practice this week, officially beginning its month-long preparation for the 2026 season.
From the opening stretch of the first practice through the final preseason scrimmage, Clemson Sports News will be on campus documenting the position battles, personnel developments, coaching decisions and emerging storylines that will shape the Tigers’ upcoming season.
This will not be a routine preseason camp.
Clemson is coming off a disappointing 7-6 season in which the Tigers finished 4-4 in ACC play, lost four games at home and concluded the year with a 21-17 loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
The Tigers averaged 27.2 points and 392.2 yards per game in 2025, substantial declines from the 34.7 points and 451.9 yards they averaged the previous season. Clemson rushed for only 124.5 yards per game and averaged 3.9 yards per carry, creating an unmistakable offseason priority.
The offense must become more physical, balanced, efficient and consistent.
Defensively, Clemson allowed 20.5 points per game and limited opponents to 105.5 rushing yards per contest. However, the season-long statistics do not tell the complete story.
Following defensive and personnel adjustments late in the season, Clemson held four consecutive opponents below 20 points. The Tigers climbed from 64th nationally in scoring defense following the Duke loss to 30th by the end of the season.
Now comes the difficult part.
Clemson must build upon that late defensive improvement while replacing significant personnel at all three levels of the defense.
THE QUARTERBACK COMPETITION BEGINS WITH CHRISTOPHER VIZZINA IN FRONT
For the first time since 2022, Clemson enters preseason camp without Cade Klubnik established as its starting quarterback.
Christopher Vizzina is expected to receive the first-team repetitions and enters camp as the clear front-runner. Head coach Dabo Swinney has described the position as Vizzina’s job to lose while leaving the door open for true freshman Tait Reynolds to challenge him.
That distinction is important.
This is not necessarily an even competition when camp begins, but neither should the final decision be considered a formality.
Vizzina has waited three seasons for this opportunity. He appeared in five games in 2025, completing 45 of 71 passes for 406 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
His most meaningful opportunity came when an injured Klubnik was unable to play against SMU. In his first career start, Vizzina completed 29 of 42 passes for 317 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
That performance demonstrated that Vizzina can operate the offense, attack defenses downfield and handle a complete game plan. Preseason camp must now determine whether he can do it consistently.
Several areas will be closely monitored throughout camp:
- Command at the line of scrimmage
- Accuracy under pressure
- Protection adjustments
- Ball placement
- Pocket awareness
- Decision-making
- Response to mistakes
- Leadership of the offense
Clemson cannot afford for its new quarterback to spend the opening weeks of the season learning how to manage the offense, particularly with LSU awaiting in the season opener.
Reynolds represents the most intriguing challenger.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound freshman arrived with the athletic ability to become a significant factor in Clemson’s quarterback running game. His speed and open-field ability give offensive coordinator Chad Morris options that differ from what Vizzina provides.
The question is how quickly Reynolds can master the entire operation.
He must understand protections, route adjustments, communication, tempo, defensive recognition and decision-making against an experienced Clemson defense.
Freshman talent can win individual practice periods. Winning the starting quarterback position requires earning the trust of the entire offense and coaching staff.
Chris Denson also deserves close attention.
The left-handed, dual-threat quarterback produced one of the most explosive reserve performances of Clemson’s 2025 season against Furman. Denson completed all four of his passes for 22 yards and a touchdown while rushing six times for 106 yards and another score.
Trent Pearman and freshman Brock Bradley complete a quarterback room that gives Clemson several different styles and skill sets.
However, the central storyline remains Vizzina’s attempt to secure the starting job and Reynolds’ opportunity to make the decision more difficult.
CHAD MORRIS RETURNS TO REBUILD CLEMSON’S OFFENSIVE IDENTITY
One of the most noticeable changes will be the structure and temperament of the offense.
Chad Morris is back as Clemson’s offensive coordinator after previously directing the Tigers’ offense from 2011 through the 2014 regular season.
During his first Clemson tenure, the Tigers went 41-11, averaged 468.5 yards and 36.3 points per game and won the 2011 ACC Championship.
Morris inherits an offense with talented skill players but major questions at quarterback and along the offensive line.
Expect an emphasis on:
- Pace and offensive tempo
- Spacing that forces defenses to cover the entire field
- Greater quarterback involvement in the running game
- Vertical passing opportunities
- Explosive plays
- More pressure on opposing defenses
- A stronger and more consistent rushing attack
That philosophy matches the abilities of Clemson’s outside receivers. However, it will work only if the offensive line gives the quarterback enough time and the running game forces defenses to respect the line of scrimmage.
Tajh Boyd now serves as Clemson’s quarterbacks coach.
Matt Luke remains the offensive line coach while also holding the titles of assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator. C.J. Spiller serves as the offensive run-game coordinator and running backs coach. Tyler Grisham is the offensive pass-game coordinator and wide receivers coach, while Kyle Richardson remains a co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.
The titles matter less than the cooperation.
Clemson must develop one clear and unified offensive identity rather than operating as a collection of disconnected ideas.
RUNNING BACK IS DEEP, TALENTED AND UNSETTLED
Clemson must replace Adam Randall, who led the team with 814 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025.
The Tigers have several viable candidates but no established every-down starter.
Gideon Davidson is the most prominent returning option.
Davidson rushed 60 times for 260 yards as a freshman, with 201 of those yards coming during November and December.
His late-season improvement showed increased patience, vision, confidence and understanding of the position.
Davidson enters camp with an opportunity to become Clemson’s lead running back. However, he must prove that he can handle:
- Pass protection
- Short-yardage carries
- Ball-security responsibilities
- Receiving responsibilities
- An increased weekly workload
- The physical demands of an entire season
Jay Haynes is one of the most important health stories entering camp.
Haynes averaged 6.7 yards on 49 career carries during the 2023 and 2024 seasons before suffering a knee injury on a kickoff return in the 2024 ACC Championship Game. The injury cost him the entire 2025 season.
If Haynes has regained his previous burst, acceleration and lateral confidence, he could immediately change the complexion of the competition.
Jarvis Green also returns after missing the 2025 season because of injury. David Eziomume has appeared in 14 games during his first two seasons and gives Clemson another physical option in the backfield.
The newest variable is Chris Johnson Jr., a transfer who previously played at Miami and SMU.
Johnson brings legitimate track speed after winning Florida high school championships in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He produced 99 all-purpose yards against Clemson while playing for SMU last season and could become a change-of-pace runner, receiving threat or return-game option.
The backfield has numbers. Camp will determine whether it also has a complete and dependable rotation.
Clemson needs:
- An effective early-down runner
- A trusted pass protector
- A short-yardage finisher
- A dependable receiving option
- An explosive player capable of turning a small crease into a touchdown
One player could fill several of those roles, but the more likely outcome is a rotation involving Davidson, Haynes and Johnson, with Green and Eziomume competing for specific responsibilities.
THE OFFENSIVE LINE MUST IMPROVE AND STAY HEALTHY
No position group will influence Clemson’s season more than the offensive line.
Clemson used eight starting offensive linemen and seven different combinations across 13 games last season. Injuries repeatedly disrupted continuity, communication, chemistry and development.
That instability contributed to a rushing attack that averaged only 3.9 yards per carry and fewer than 125 yards per game.
The Tigers must now replace four experienced starters:
- Blake Miller
- Tristan Leigh
- Walker Parks
- Ryan Linthicum
Together, those four players accounted for 11,028 offensive snaps and 161 career starts. That is an enormous amount of experience to replace at one time.
Harris Sewell is the most experienced returning offensive lineman, with 1,650 career snaps and 17 starts. Collin Sadler has played 1,291 snaps and has started at both guard and tackle.
Their experience gives Clemson two important building blocks, but almost everything else must be established during camp.
Elyjah Thurmon is a major variable.
An ankle injury ended his promising freshman season in 2024, and a shoulder injury contributed to a redshirt season in 2025. A healthy Thurmon could become one of Clemson’s most important offensive linemen.
Brayden Jacobs made four starts and played 368 snaps as a true freshman before suffering a foot injury following the Louisville game. Ronan O’Connell earned his first start in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Dietrick Pennington, Chapman Pendergrass, Ian Reed and Mason Wade add older options, while Easton Ware returns after a shoulder injury cost him his freshman season.
Clemson also signed a highly regarded six-man offensive line class featuring:
- Chance Barclay
- Leo Delaney
- Carter Scruggs
- Braden Wilmes
- Grant Wise
- Adam Guthrie
Several members of the class arrived early and benefited from spring practice. However, Clemson should not want to depend heavily upon true freshmen in the season opener unless they clearly earn their positions.
The offensive line must answer several essential questions during camp:
- Who will play left tackle?
- Who will handle the communication responsibilities at center?
- Which five players work best together?
- Who will emerge as the first two reserves?
- Can the unit create movement in the running game?
- Can the tackles consistently protect the quarterback?
- Can the group remain healthy throughout camp?
- Can Clemson avoid another season of constant lineup changes?
Talent will not matter if the group cannot practice and develop together.
CLEMSON’S RECEIVERS COULD BE THE OFFENSE’S GREATEST STRENGTH
Few teams possess a more dangerous outside receiving combination than T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr.
Moore caught 52 passes for 837 yards and four touchdowns last season, averaging 16.1 yards per reception.
Wesco played only seven games because of injury but still caught 31 passes for 537 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 17.3 yards per reception.
Together, they give Clemson two big, explosive targets capable of winning contested catches and changing games vertically.
Keeping Wesco healthy will be one of the coaching staff’s top priorities during camp.
Clemson needs him available throughout the season, not merely producing spectacular moments during August practices.
The slot receiver competition is more open following Antonio Williams’ departure for the NFL.
Tyler Brown is the most experienced candidate. He caught 22 passes for 191 yards last season and has previously shown the short-area quickness needed to become a high-volume target.
Juju Preston has generated growing interest within the program, while freshman Naeem Burroughs arrives as one of the top prospects in Clemson’s 2026 signing class.
Cole Turner, Tristan Smith and a large group of younger receivers will compete for rotational opportunities.
Camp will reveal whether Clemson has three dependable starting receivers or whether the offense must rotate several players around Moore and Wesco.
At tight end, Clemson has several options.
Olsen Patt-Henry returns after a knee injury ended his 2025 season in November.
Christian Bentancur caught 20 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns last season, while Logan Brooking scored on his first career reception.
That depth gives Morris several options for:
- Two-tight-end formations
- Play-action concepts
- Red-zone packages
- Short-yardage situations
- Additional pass protection
- Mismatches against linebackers and defensive backs
THE DEFENSIVE LINE IS BEING REBUILT FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Clemson’s defensive front will look dramatically different this season.
Will Heldt returns as the established leader at defensive end.
Heldt recorded 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his first season at Clemson.
The Tigers finished second in the ACC with 35 sacks in 2025, and Heldt will be expected to anchor the pass rush.
The position opposite Heldt remains open following T.J. Parker’s departure.
Jahiem Lawson produced 24 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 307 snaps last season.
Darien Mayo and Ari Watford remain developmental candidates, while transfers London Merritt and C.J. Wesley add immediate competition.
Merritt recorded eight tackles for loss as a freshman at Colorado, while Wesley arrives after spending four seasons at Howard.
The larger concern is defensive tackle.
Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart departed for the NFL, while Stephiylan Green transferred. Those three players accounted for all 24 regular-season starts at defensive tackle in 2025.
Clemson is replacing:
- Production
- Size
- Leadership
- Starting experience
- Interior pass-rushing ability
- Familiarity with the defensive system
Vic Burley and Champ Thompson started in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Amare Adams was positioned to earn significant playing time before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in November. Hevin Brown-Shuler also returns and will compete for a larger role.
Clemson used the transfer portal to add:
- Kourtney Kelly from West Georgia
- Markus Strong from Oklahoma
- Andy Burburija from Iowa Western
Makhi Williams Lee returns after missing his freshman season because of an Achilles injury, while freshman Kam Cody will compete for early playing time.
This group does not need to produce another Dexter Lawrence immediately.
It does, however, need to:
- Hold the point of attack
- Protect the linebackers
- Avoid being moved by double teams
- Disrupt running lanes
- Collapse the pocket
- Prevent quarterbacks from stepping forward comfortably
- Develop a dependable playing rotation
The rotation will be critical.
Clemson cannot expect two inexperienced defensive tackles to play nearly every meaningful snap.
LINEBACKER IS EXCELLENT AT THE TOP AND DANGEROUSLY THIN BEHIND IT
Sammy Brown is the centerpiece of Clemson’s defense.
Brown led the Tigers with 107 tackles last season while adding 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, seven pass breakups and one interception.
He earned first-team All-ACC recognition and has recorded at least 10 tackles for loss and five sacks in each of his first two seasons.
Brown is Clemson’s most proven defender and one of the nation’s most productive linebackers.
That is both reassuring and concerning.
Clemson primarily operates from a 4-2-5 defensive structure, meaning the Tigers generally need only two traditional linebackers on the field.
However, the depth behind Brown remains one of the roster’s most significant vulnerabilities.
An injury to Brown would remove the unit’s:
- Leading tackler
- Most dependable playmaker
- Most experienced linebacker
- Defensive communicator
- Emotional leader
Jeremiah Alexander and Kobe McCloud are the primary candidates to start beside him.
Alexander played in all 13 games last season, started three and finished with 33 tackles. McCloud recorded 28 tackles in 13 appearances.
Together, they produced 15 tackles in the bowl game against Penn State.
Drew Woodaz and C.J. Kubah-Taylor must become dependable rotational players.
Logan Anderson is returning from the ACL injury he suffered during his senior year of high school, while freshman Brayden Reilly joins the room this summer.
Fletcher Cothran provides another experienced option after being forced into a larger late-season role in 2025.
The concern is not necessarily Clemson’s projected starting pair.
The concern is what happens following:
- An injury
- A targeting penalty
- A fatigue issue
- An extended stretch against an up-tempo offense
- A situation requiring additional defensive packages
Ben Boulware and Tom Allen must use camp to identify at least four linebackers they trust in meaningful situations.
Brown cannot be expected to play every snap, and Clemson cannot enter the season with an untested emergency plan.
A REBUILT SECONDARY MUST COMMUNICATE AND ELIMINATE EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
Clemson’s secondary underwent major personnel changes following a difficult 2025 season defending the pass.
Ashton Hampton is now the most experienced returning defensive back.
He has played 1,150 defensive snaps across 27 games and enters his junior season with 77 tackles, 17 pass breakups and three interceptions.
His ability to become a consistent shutdown corner would allow defensive coordinator Tom Allen to become more aggressive elsewhere.
Branden Strozier emerged late last season, while Penn State transfer Elliot Washington II adds experience and familiarity with Allen’s defensive system.
Corian Gipson and Misun “Tink” Kelley return at nickel, with Auburn transfer Donovan Starr and freshman Marcell Gipson Jr. adding competition.
The safety position received an even more extensive overhaul.
Jerome Carter III arrives from Old Dominion after earning All-Sun Belt honors and tying for second nationally with six interceptions in 2025.
Corey Myrick adds experience from Marshall and Southern Miss.
Ronan Hanafin returns after finishing third on the team with 72 tackles, while several other players will compete for defined roles:
- Kylon Griffin
- Kylen Webb
- Noah Dixon
- Joe Wilkinson
- Jakarrion Kenan
Thomas Allen now serves as the defensive pass-game coordinator. Nolan Turner coaches the safeties, Corico Wright coaches the nickelbacks and Mike Reed remains responsible for the cornerbacks.
The secondary’s central challenge will be communication.
New safeties, new combinations and changing responsibilities can create coverage breakdowns even when every individual player is talented.
Clemson must use August to identify the group that communicates and works together most effectively, not simply the players who produce the most interceptions during individual drills.
The secondary must demonstrate that it can:
- Communicate before the snap
- Avoid coverage busts
- Limit explosive passing plays
- Tackle consistently in space
- Defend the deep ball
- Handle tempo
- Adjust to motion and formation changes
- Create turnovers without sacrificing assignment discipline
RICH BISACCIA BRINGS IMMEDIATE CREDIBILITY TO SPECIAL TEAMS
Clemson’s new special teams coordinator is Rich Bisaccia.
His addition is one of the most significant staff moves of Clemson’s offseason.
Bisaccia was formally hired in March after spending 24 years as an NFL special teams coordinator.
His professional coaching career included stops with:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- San Diego Chargers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Green Bay Packers
He also served as the Raiders’ interim head coach in 2021, guiding the team to a 7-5 record and its first playoff appearance since 2016.
Bisaccia previously coached Clemson’s running backs and special teams from 1994 through 1998.
His influence should extend beyond kicks and punts.
Bisaccia brings four decades of coaching experience, NFL organizational knowledge and a demanding approach to:
- Detail
- Preparation
- Effort
- Accountability
- Situational awareness
- Coverage discipline
- Return-game execution
Clemson returns Nolan Hauser, who has made 35 of 45 career field-goal attempts and 97 of 98 extra-point attempts.
Robert Gunn III returns as the kickoff specialist, while Jack Smith is back after averaging 41.4 yards on 50 punts last season.
The Tigers must replace veteran long snappers Holden Caspersen and Philip Florenzo.
Coverage units, return decisions, hidden yardage, situational execution and penalty reduction will all be monitored closely.
Clemson does not need its special teams merely to avoid losing games.
With Bisaccia coordinating the unit, the expectation should be for special teams to help win them.
WHAT CLEMSON SPORTS NEWS WILL BE WATCHING
Clemson Sports News will provide on-campus coverage throughout the opening of preseason camp, including:
- Practice photography
- Practice observations
- Post-practice interviews
- Position analysis
- Injury updates
- Depth-chart developments
- Coaching observations
- Daily reporting on the most important storylines
The early practices should begin providing answers to several major questions:
- How firmly does Christopher Vizzina control the quarterback job?
- How much pressure can Tait Reynolds place on the frontrunner?
- How many carries can Gideon Davidson handle?
- How close are Jay Haynes and Jarvis Green to regaining their pre-injury form?
- Which five offensive linemen will work together as the first-team unit?
- Can Clemson establish a physical and productive running game?
- Can Bryant Wesco Jr. remain healthy and develop into a full-season star?
- Who will win the defensive end position opposite Will Heldt?
- Can Clemson’s new defensive tackles hold their ground?
- Who will start beside Sammy Brown?
- Which reserve linebackers are truly prepared to contribute?
- How quickly can the rebuilt secondary eliminate communication mistakes?
- What immediate changes will Rich Bisaccia make to Clemson’s special teams operation?
Those questions will not all be answered during the first practice or even during the first week of camp.
However, the process of answering them begins now.
FOOTBALL IS HERE
Preseason optimism is easy.
Clemson must turn that optimism into evidence.
The Tigers have high-level talent at wide receiver, a potential national star at linebacker, an experienced edge rusher, a proven kicker and several promising additions from the transfer portal.
They also have:
- A new starting quarterback
- A reconstructed offensive line
- An unsettled running back rotation
- A rebuilt defensive interior
- A reworked secondary
- Legitimate concerns about linebacker depth
- A new offensive coordinator
- A new special teams coordinator
That combination makes August essential.
By the time Clemson reaches its season opener, the Tigers must know who their quarterback will be, establish a dependable offensive line, create a productive running back rotation, develop defensive depth and build a special teams identity under one of the most respected coaches in the profession.
Clemson Sports News will be there to cover every step of the journey.
