CLEMSON – Year One was the first time out of the starting role, and now he’s a sophomore trying to prove what he can bring to the table.

Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina was a starting quarterback all throughout his high school career. He was a five-star prospect and one of the most coveted players in the 2023 class.

“Last year honestly was the first time in my life I wasn’t playing,” Vizzina said. “There was a lot of lessons that came from that but that was also kind of like a rubber band, pulling me back so when the opportunity comes, I can let it go. It’s going to be good so I’m excited about everything. It’s been a good couple practices of being able to show what I’ve had, what I’ve learned for the past couple months.”

This spring, head coach Dabo Swinney said he would like to see some competition at quarterback. If nothing else, he wants Vizzina and Cade Klubnik to push each other and the redshirt freshman made it clear that the two have been doing that since he arrived.

That doesn’t change Vizzina’s hunger. He’s opened spring practice with some strong throws, and he’s trying to prove every day that he can bring it to the field for the Tigers.

“To go out there and get an actual rep of it and coach Swinney seeing it, everyone see it, it’s kind of like ‘hey I’m here, this is what I’ve been waiting on,’” Vizzina said.

Swinney’s confidence in Vizzina is evident every time he talks about the quarterback, but he takes it with a grain of salt, saying “I’ve still got to show him” and prove him right in spring practice and beyond. As Vizzina talked about his first season, the passion was evident and he’s taking this spring to showcase the quarterback he can be at Clemson.