Can Clemson QB Tait Reynolds be the Next Trinidad Chambliss?
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The Clemson Tigers are going to have to make some sort of change on offense after starting quarterback Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds combined to throw for 105 yards in a 51-10 loss to LSU in Week 1.
Certainly, the rushing game wasn't a boost. Clemson gained -4 yards rushing in the first half before finishing with 40 yards.
Ole Miss made a quarterback change early in the 2025 season that helped fuel a run to the College Football Playoff, replacing Austin Simmons with Trinidad Chambliss.
During the "Josh Pate's College Football Show" on Thursday, the host suggested Reynolds could be who Dabo Swinney turns to get the offense going. He didn't say Reynolds could be on par with Chambliss, but suggested a quarterback change could help Clemson right the ship.
"I don't know, maybe the season will be saved for Dabo," Pate said. "Maybe he just went and played the best team in the country. Maybe. Maybe they're going to make a change at quarterback, and that'll do for Clemson a muted version of what Trinidad Chambliss coming in did for Ole Miss last year.
"I don't even want to finish the sentence because I know somewhere out there, one of my enemies is going to say, did you hear him compare Tait Reynolds to Trinidad Chambliss? And the answer is no, you did not. You did not hear me do that. But I trust and hope and pray that you get the point I'm making.”
But at this point, Clemson needs to have some sort of belief after a demoralizing loss to LSU under its first-year head coach Lane Kiffin. If Swinney can't change the momentum fast, things could get ugly.
“That's called glass half full," Pate said. "The glass is like three-quarters empty right now, because I didn't see many things that were salvageable from that game the other night in terms of reasons to believe.
"Dabo's already had a couple of vintage press conference moments, and that's always a sure sign that things are headed downhill. So I guess if it continues to track poorly, even if you're a legend, you don't get to continue this trajectory. You just don't. Dabo or otherwise, you just don't.”
The easiest way for Swinney to have avoided this mess would have been to add talent at quarterback in the offensive line via the transfer portal. He didn't, and the Tigers are looking for a miracle in September.
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