If Christopher Vizzina is the “safe” pick for Clemson’s starting quarterback job, Chris Denson is the electric bolt of lightning that will knock the whole depth chart off balance. As the national press (and ESPN’s No. 52 ranking) turns its attention to Vizzina, an 18-year-old freshman from Plant City, Florida, who is quietly taking centre stage in spring practice.
He’s no longer just a scout-team body; he’s a legitimate contender to run for the throne. Last November, Denson offered Tiger fans a tantalizing glimpse of his potential against Furman. Time and time again, within a few snaps, it looked as if he was the most athletic player on his field — rushing for 108 yards on only seven carries. Dabo Swinney didn’t hold back the praise:
“He is unbelievably explosive,” Swinney said. “He’s still developing as a quarterback… but we’re seeing a ton of improvement at practice physically and developmentally, where throwing the ball is concerned.”
Swinney even admits it has to do with how dangerous Denson is on his legs in practice—where defenders are actually allowed to tackle him, because "it's kind of his gift... you almost do him a disservice when he isn’t live."
To fit in with new QBs coach (and Clemson legend) Tajh Boyd, Denson has been made a hip-linking connection with him. Swinney has described Denson as “Tajh’s project,” and it has clearly become a success. Denson himself is first to say that he must grow:
“It’s just going back to how I knew I needed to work on it from last season,” Denson said. “I just feel like I need to do better as a passer. But I’m stacking day by day, I’m getting there.”
The “stacking” can encompass more than film study. Denson has gone from being a 190-pound freshman to nearly 200 pounds, with a goal of hitting 205 by fall. “I just want to thank the nutrition staff for that,” he said. “I think that’s a really simple goal for me.”
“No Matter Who Runs Out First”. According to Dabo Swinney Christopher Vizzina is in the "pole position" but the door is swinging wide open. The quarterback room had been described by Swinney as a place of “unbelievable strain” and “fierce competition.” Denson is not intimidated by the “tenure” of the older men in the space. His mindset is clear:
“All those guys in the room, we are all fighting for that starting job. You know, myself, CV, Brock, Tate, Trent — it’s my way of saying, me, we’re all in it for it. You know what it is all about? And I just feel like at the end of the day, it’s going to improve us all, no matter who runs out there first.”
If Denson can perform consistently on the field during the Orange and White Spring Game on March 28, however, the "pole position" might just have a new driver.