5 Most glaring Clemson needs coming out of the transfer portal

The Zeb Noland Plan at Quarterback

The Tigers offered multiple quarterbacks in the Class of 2024. All of them ultimately chose other programs. After Air Noland chose Ohio State, Clemson decided they weren’t going to pursue another 2024 quarterback.

They went all in on 2025 quarterback Blake Hebert instead, but he will not be available in 2024. Additionally, Hunter Helms transferred to Rhode Island.

This leaves the Tigers with Cade Klubnik, redshirt freshman Christopher Vizzina (who attempted zero passes in 2023), walk-on Trent Pearman, and Paul Tyson.

The veteran Tyson will not be on scholarship but will be assuming a mentorship role with the quarterbacks. Should injuries impact the position, Dabo Swinney says Tyson can be activated, as he has another season of eligibility remaining.

"Paul Tyson is going to stay. He’s got another year. We call him Uncle Paul. Uncle Paul, he’s going to be our Zeb Noland. Lord, God help us. Hopefully, we don’t have to get to that point. If you get to a fourth quarterback, it’s usually not pretty good anyway."

- Dabo Swinney

Noland was a quarterback for the South Carolina Gamecocks who came to Columbia in 2022 intending to be a graduate assistant, but he still had a year of eligibility remaining. When things got dire for SC, they activated him and he played several games.

Swinney isn’t wrong: if you get to your 4th QB, things are likely not going to finish great, but when you add in that your third quarterback is also a walk-on, and your second quarterback has yet to complete a pass against college competition, well, that’s not good.

I would not be surprised at all if Swinney and his staff changed their minds about their quarterback situation after spring ball. The Zeb Noland Plan doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.

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