Following Clemson football’s spring period, which ended on March 30, head coach Dabo Swinney hinted at a possible position change for redshirt freshman quarterback and fan favorite Chris Denson.
The idea isn’t new to the program: Adam Randall switched from wide receiver to running back for his final season in 2025, rather than transferring, a move he had considered. Other current players, such as safety Ronan Hanafin and cornerback Misun Kelley, have also changed positions in recent years.
“If (Denson) stays at quarterback, because I think he’s a guy that’s got a decision to make,” Swinney said. “If he stays at quarterback, he will play for us. He’ll have a role. He’s too talented.”
Upon entering the spring stretch, many people thought the Florida native would take strides as a passer to edge closer to the backup role behind projected starter Christopher Vizzina.
The hype came from a late November contest against FCS program Furman, where the slim dual-threat quarterback played a near-perfect game, completing all four of his throws for 22 yards and one touchdown while leading the team in rushing with 106 yards and a touchdown on only six carries, with 17.7 yards per carry.
However, the young signal caller hasn’t lived up to expectations this offseason. In the spring game, Denson was the fifth quarterback to take the field, coming in behind Vizzina, the true freshmen duo of Tait Reynolds and Brock Bradley and walk-on fifth-year Trent Pearman.
He finished the contest, completing two of five passes for three yards and one rush for negative eight yards. He was the only signal caller to finish with under five passing yards.
Following the game, the media asked head coach Dabo Swinney about the decision to put Denson in last, and his answer was as straightforward as it gets.
“Depth chart,” he said. “We came out of spring, CV one and Tait’s two. It’s not close. Those two guys separated, and that’s where we are.”
While reviewing the list of five quarterbacks, Swinney finished with Denson. He described Denson as an elite runner and overall athlete, but said his passing is a whole different story.
“Denson is physically as gifted as anybody we got, but (he’s) just not where he needs to be from a passing-game standpoint to compete like he needs to.”
The redshirt freshman even agreed weeks earlier that his passing is the No. 1 thing he needs to improve.
“I feel like I need to improve as a passer,” he said in early March. “(I’m) just stacking day by day, getting there.”
At this point, the ball is in Denson’s court regarding his decision on his position, as Swinney says, “he’ll have to buy into that.” Whatever he decides to do, the two parties will discuss it, as Swinney did with Randall last season, especially with player meetings coming up in the next few weeks.
Regardless, Swinney insists that the athletic signal caller will have a role on the offense in the future, either at his current position or another.
