CLEMSON — When a team can score 63 first quarter points in the last two games, it does more than help the scoreboard.
It also allows backup players to get in and earn valuable reps in a real game situation. Such is the case for Clemson’s Christopher Vizzina.
In the last two weeks, as No. 17 Clemson rolled to easy wins over Appalachian State and NC State, the Tigers’ backup quarterback recorded 38 snaps, nearly 30 more than he received all of last season while redshirting.
“It has been really great. He needs that because, and I was just talking about that to him today, every day at practice is his game reps. That is how he has to approach it every single day,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “Again, hopefully, we can keep developing him along. He has a chance to be a really good player.”
Vizzina played 25 snaps against App State on Sept. 7, while completing 7 of 11 passes for 78 yards. He also ran the football six times for 31 yards, including one carry for his first career touchdown.
Last week, against NC State, he threw for 41 yards on 4 of 7 pass attempts, while playing 13 snaps.
Swinney feels Vizzina’s confidence is growing by the day, including in Wednesday’s practice at the Poe Indoor Practice Facility, as the Tigers prepare to host Stanford on Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN).
“We had a really good two-minute drill today and he did some really good stuff in that, so I am just really proud of him,” Swinney said. “He did not get a lot of reps last year, but he continued to stay engaged and worked. Now he is gaining more and more confidence with every practice and every opportunity he gets to play.”
Vizzina is also doing a good job when he is on the sideline.
“He is really being engaged and making sure he is getting the mental reps,” Swinney said. “He is a big strong kid. He can make all the throws. He just needs experience. He is progressing. It has been really good for him to have the opportunity to play in a couple of games already.”
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