Talking Tuesday: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney announces his starting quarterback leading up to the LSU game (AUDIO)

It will be Christopher Vizzina taking the first snap at quarterback for Clemson Saturday night at LSU. Head coach Dabo Swinney made that announcement on Tuesday at his press conference previewing the meeting with the Tigers. Vizzina held off a strong challenge from freshman Tait Reynolds, who Swinney said might play some on Saturday, though that likely will depend on how well Vizzina is playing.

This will mark Vizzina’s second career start. Last season against SMU, he was 29-42 for 317 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-24 loss to the Mustangs.

This will be the sixth meeting between the Tigers with LSU owning a 4-1 advantage. Last season in Death Valley, Clemson led 10-0 at halftime before LSU rallied for a 17-10 victory. LSU is favored by 10.5 points.

Some key comments from Dabo Swinney

• His players have done everything asked of them in camp, can’t take them any farther without playing a game, excited to see them compete against a big-time opponent.
• A lot of unknowns with a new coaching staff at LSU, have to look at what they did at Ole Miss. Present a lot of problems from a scheme standpoint, they’ve brought in an elite group of talent and are well coached.
• LSU is a complete team, quarterback Sam Leavitt is a good one, and a tough competitor
• There was a quarterback competition this fall, Vizzina separated from the group in the spring, Reynolds made a jump late in the spring and made a run in the fall, and Vizzina is still ahead, not by a lot, but in their grading still ahead.
• Vizzina doesn’t have a lifetime contract, he’s got to play well and go win a game, Vizzina started out on top, Reynolds closed the gap and got real close, and then Vizzina moved back ahead, but Reynolds isn’t going away, both can win for Clemson.
• Joking about LSU having a TE who was in camp with the Browns, he noted he watched the Browns in practice and might get turned in.
• What’s going on with college football and NFL prospects released from camps is embarrassing; it’s a joke, zero rules, and when you enforce rules, somebody goes and finds a judge to overrule it, but he’s been focused on Clemson.
• The key for his team has been the competition they’ve had, and they’ve ad competition at every position, feels the running back room is undervalued, things all five will make contributions this season.
• Vizzina has hung in with the program, could have transferred and been highly sought after, but he stayed, and he won the job, but Reynolds is special and isn’t going away.
• Reynolds is going to be a good one…he’s big, fast, has a rocket for an arm, probably has all weight room records for a freshman quarterback, he’s earned the opportunity to play, though he’s not guaranteeing that.
• They believe in Vizzina, he’s earned the job, also believes in Reynolds, best case scenario is CV lights it up and has a great season, and Reynolds gets to play behind him, but no crystal ball and no guarantees.
• Neither Watson nor Lawrence began as starters and went out and won the job with their performances, can’t predict what happens here, no agenda, no pre-set plan for a switch, go out and play and see how they do.
• Biggest thing on defense last season was the poor play of the secondary, they did a poor job but thinks they will be much improved there.
• They are as deep at defensive end as they have been in awhile, at tackle, they’ve just got to go play and prove themselves and distinguish themselves, unproven dudes there.
• He and Chad Morris have had a lot of life together, there’s a lot of synergy between them, they think alike, speak the same language, he’s a high-energy guy, like he is, got some fire in the belly, a huge comfort zone.

Dabo Swinney press conference previewing LSU