Christopher Vizzina’s absence from this week’s ACC Football Kickoff sparked some questions among Clemson fans, especially with the sophomore entering fall camp as the favorite to win the starting quarterback job.
Head coach Dabo Swinney put any speculation to rest Tuesday, explaining that Vizzina not making the trip to Charlotte had nothing to do with the quarterback competition.
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Instead, Clemson will be represented by linebacker Sammy Brown, defensive end Will Heldt and tight end Olsen Patt-Henry at the conference’s annual preseason media event. Swinney said his approach has always been to lean on senior leaders first, making Patt-Henry and Heldt easy choices. Brown claimed the final spot after the ACC submitted a list of requested players.
“Well, [Vizzina is] not a senior, so Olsen was the offensive senior that we chose. So, [Vizzina] wasn’t on the pool,” Swinney said. “You kind of look at, who are your seniors, and you talk to your coaches, and it was Olsen. And then it was Heldt on defense. And then, OK, who do they [the ACC] want? Ross [Ross Taylor, Clemson’s Associate Athletic Director for Football Communications & Strategic Initiatives] … He tells me who they [the ACC] want. There’s three or four guys they list, and I’m like, alright, we’ll take Sammy. So, it’s really not complicated. It’s not anything more than that.”
Swinney also pointed out that each school is bringing only three players this year after being allowed to bring four in 2025.
“For me, I think you’ve got to have context,” Swinney said. “I’ve always taken our seniors, number one. That’s kind of where I start. … So, Olsen is our senior that we chose, and been a starter for us. And then Heldt was a senior, and they all wanted Sammy Brown. So, that’s kind of how it goes. There was a couple other names they threw out there. But I don’t really worry about all that stuff. Last year we got to take four, too. This year, they cut it to three.”
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While Vizzina won’t be in Charlotte this week, Swinney made it clear the decision shouldn’t be viewed as any reflection of Clemson’s quarterback outlook heading into preseason camp.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson’s Dabo Swinney on not bringing Christopher Vizzina to ACC Kickoff
