TCI Recruiting Roundup: Clemson's 2026 Class Off to Good Start

Last weekend, quarterback Tait Reynolds became the first member of Clemson’s 2026 recruiting class.

Locking down a player at the most important position this early in the process gets the Tigers off to a really solid start, because in today’s college football, it’s all about the quarterback.

The recruiting services differ on the young quarterback, which is understandable, seeing as he’s only been playing football for about two years. However, there is one service that is extremely high on Reynolds, with ESPN ranking him as the fourth-best quarterback in the class. His next highest rating is with On3, who ranks him No. 18 among all players at his position.

Judging Reynolds based solely on his recruiting ranking would be short-sighted. Clemson is taking him for the quarterback they think he will be, not for the one he is today. Reynolds himself has said he’s still raw when compared to some of the other quarterbacks in the class, but he has all the tools and his workout at camp last month was awfully impressive.

“They just loved how I played and what kind of person I am especially,” Reynolds told The Clemson Insider after camp. “They really liked I was more of just an athlete. Like I’m not very polished. I don’t really go to QB coaches, like a lot of these guys do.”

So far, Garrett Riley has had a lot of success working with quarterbacks. The fact that Reynolds is the quarterback he wanted speaks volumes. He has all the physical attributes, including a cannon for an arm. His athleticism is off the charts.

Getting the quarterback in place this early in the process is crucial. It not only allows the rest of the offensive targets to see who they’ll be playing with, but it also lets Reynolds get busy on helping to recruit the rest of the class.

While it’s just the first piece, it’s also one of the most important pieces.

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!