Dabo Swinney was over the moon as the Tigers made just enough plays to slip past the Louisville Cardinals. They clinched a 20-19 win, but struggled immensely with their quarterback play. Hence, amid all the praise, he ensured to point out Cade Klubnik’s flaws in clutch moments. With the QB already in his senior year, the HC is considering a new prospect as they host Furman next week.

Swinney raved about freshman QB Chris Denson and said that he would want to see him on the field in their upcoming game. “I’d love to see Chris play some (vs. Furman). This guy is an elite, elite athlete. You’ve got guys that can run, and then you’ve got Denson. This guy is unbelievably explosive,” he said during a post-game conference on Sunday. However, he also credited assistant QB coach Tajh Boyd for transforming Denson into what he has become.

In his fifth season assisting the Clemson offense, Boyd played a key role, even in Klubnik’s rise to fame, among his other contributions to the program. That’s why Dabo Swinney credited and highlighted Boyd for working with Denson on his passing techniques and fundamentals. Plus, the HC could see “a ton of improvement” from the freshman QB. But Boyd’s impact on Denson is far more than a coach.

The Tigers alum is a role model and an inspiration for the young gun and was one of the reasons he committed to the program back in 2024. Hence, the prospect of Denson being on the Tigers’ starting roster next season, while learning passing techniques from his idol, is quite a dream-come-true. Originally, Denson committed to Coastal Carolina on April 17, 2024, but flipped his commitment to Clemson on Nov. 26, 2024. Even the HC couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the QB for the first time.

“I really couldn’t believe it when I watched his tape for the first time,” Swinney said during the signing day. Denson continues to earn the praise, while Cade Klubnik had another horrific moment.  Swinney labeled it as a” brain fart” and called it a mental error rather than anything physical.

What changes are due for Dabo Swinney’s Tigers in 2026?

While Dabo Swinney showed immense faith in true freshman QB Chris Denson, the question remains if he will be the saving grace Clemson wants him to be. After Adam Randall rushed for 105 yards and scored 2 TDs in the Cardinals’ game, Swinney announced that they do not need to go into the transfer portal to get a running back. He also stated that punter Jack Smith is also misunderstood and claimed that he proved everyone wrong with his performance in the fourth quarter.

Even though it is admirable that Swinney has this much faith in his side, he also needs to look at the bigger picture. The seniors, including Klubnik, Randall, and Leigh, will exhaust their eligibility to play, while guys like T.J. Parker and Terrell are expected to kick off their NFL journey. Hence, to save their side from falling apart next season, Swinney might have to change his mind about going into the transfer portal. In addition to that, their early quarterback play has struggled for almost five seasons now.

First with Uiagalelei and now with Klubnik. That’s why Denson and Christopher Vizzina, who covered for Klubnik in their game against Duke, should also be on the watch. However, other than being a promising prospect, they have no proven experience, making it a potentially costly gamble for the Tigers.