Clemson fans saw the flash. Dabo Swinney saw the foundation.
The Tigers head coach said the plan all along was to give freshman quarterback Chris Denson meaningful snaps — and Denson delivered in spectacular fashion.
“Really get Denson in some significant time was also… you know, and I just thought he was… I mean, that’s what he does in practice, that’s what we’ve seen,” Swinney said. “He showed up really well, but he’s developed. He’s had a great spring and summer. Again, there’s been a lot of growth, both you don’t see. That’s gonna pay dividends. I’m really proud of him.”
Denson became Clemson’s first quarterback to rush for 100 yards in a game since Trevor Lawrence in 2019, finishing with six carries for 106 yards — a staggering 17.7 yards per attempt.
“I think they told me that’s the most since 1947 by a quarterback,” Swinney said. “He was 4 for 4 and had a nice touchdown pass on the RPO there that was awesome.”
‘He Needs to Play Every Rep’
Swinney said Denson’s progress has come from one thing: volume.
“You know, it’s… he needs to play every rep,” Swinney said. “So it’s good to see, and fun to see him. By the way to get those on the last one.”
Because Denson is redshirting, Clemson has been able to push him harder than most young quarterbacks.
“The last, you know, 3 or 4 weeks, we’ve done a lot of scrimmage work on Tuesdays,” Swinney said. “He’s gotten a lot of live scrimmage work… he’s the only quarterback we’ve made live. Because it’s kind of his gift, right? You almost do him a disservice when he’s not live.”
The idea: let his biggest strength — playmaking — develop unrestrained.
Physical Growth and Tajh Boyd’s Impact
Denson arrived lean. That changed fast.
“From a physical standpoint, he’s progressed great,” Swinney said. “He was kind of a leaner guy coming in here, and so he’s worked his butt off on the weight road.”
The head coach credited former Clemson star Tajh Boyd with accelerating his mechanics and understanding.
“He’s kind of Tajh’s project,” Swinney said. “Tajh is really kind of… and C.J.’s all go every day. They work. They do a lot of post-practice stuff. The kid’s grinding.”
That work has transformed not only his body but his processing.
“He’s a very smart kid, he’s a high football IQ guy,” Swinney said. “He really understands… he knows how to ask questions. He knows how to watch tape. He’s taken a lot of ownership.”
A Natural Leader With Calm Under Pressure
Swinney praised Denson’s demeanor, calling it rare for a freshman.
“He’s a natural leader,” Swinney said. “It’s not something that he has to work at. He’s got a great presence to him, great demeanor.”
The best example, according to Swinney, is how Denson disguises inexperience.
“Early on… I knew he didn’t really know what was going on,” Swinney said. “But you would never sense that with him. He’s like the duck on the water, and the feet make… but you don’t see that there.”
That poise showed up on Clemson’s sideline — and in the huddle — Saturday.
The Freshman’s Perspective: Trust, Homesickness, and Cade Klubnik
After the game, Denson admitted some of the night still felt surreal.
Asked about his highlight 50-yard run, he said, “Grass, that’s it, open field. Everything just worked out how it’s supposed to. Credit to my line.”
He also shared how meaningful it was to celebrate his touchdown pass with tight end Logan Brooking.
“It’s also his first career touchdown,” Denson said. “I’m really, really happy about it.”
And when the crowd roared for Cade Klubnik, Denson admitted it hit him emotionally.
“Cade has been a really, really big help since I’ve been here,” Denson said. “You have the homesick — he’s kind of helped me push through that. Cade’s a great guy. Not just to me, to everybody. It’s gonna suck when he leaves.”
Their relationship has gone beyond football.
“We had a conversation last week about how I’m feeling and how everything is,” Denson said. “Our stories kind of align whenever he got here. Kind of helped me get through that.”
Looking Ahead: A Quarterback Room With Options
Clemson’s QB depth is suddenly a strength — and Swinney knows it.
“It should be a fun spring,” Swinney said. “Him and… we got a couple good signees about to roll in here in a couple weeks that we’re really excited about.”
And the head coach even name-dropped Trent Pearman as the program’s permanent insurance.
“You always got Trent,” Swinney said. “He’s like the old dog laying on the porch. You just throw a little food out there, and he’s ready to go.”
But for now, Saturday belonged to Denson.