North Carolina QB Can '100-Percent' See Himself Fitting in Clemson Offense

Mason Holtzclaw was in Atlanta as a guest of the Tigers’ for the season-opening loss to Georgia. One week later he was in Death Valley for Clemson’s record-setting performance in the thumping of App State.

Two games, and two very different performances. After watching the offense lay an egg against the Bulldogs, what the sophomore quarterback saw against the Mountaineers was on a whole other level.

“A lot different from the first game we watched,” Holtzclaw told The Clemson Insider. “It was completely different. They looked sharp down the field. Cade (Klubnik) looked good all-around. They looked like they were clicking, like they were really prepared. Offense just looked great. It was really, really fun and it really stuck out to me.”

What he witnessed from Garrett Riley’s offense that night is a system he can definitely see himself playing in at the next level.

“Yes, 100-percent,” Holtzclaw said. “They were moving the ball up and down the field. That is kind of the offense I want to run. It was balanced. They were able to run the ball, which opens up the passing game. That is one of the big things for me. I could really see myself playing in an offense like that.”

With it being a night game, Holtzclaw got to spend most of the day on campus. He spent a big part of that time with assistant quarterbacks coach Tajh Boyd and also got to touch base with Riley before the Tigers hit the field.

“I talked with Tajh Boyd pretty much for most of the day, I ate lunch with him,” Holtzclaw said. “We talked for the whole time pretty much and not about football. About life in general. About being a leader and all that. Then before the game started I talked with coach Riley. He said he loved my film, was encouraging me. Said he loved my film like he did back in the summer (at camp).”

Last season at Wren, Holtclaw threw for 1,522 yards with 14 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He transferred to Christ School (Arden, NC) before this season and reclassified from 2026 to the 2027 class.

The quarterback was in Columbia for the LSU game on Saturday and said he was also planning visits to North Carolina, Florida State and Georgia Tech. All those schools have already offered. The signal caller also talked about possibly getting to Ole Miss, Michigan and Notre Dame before the season ends.

That’s the kind of schedule that makes for a busy fall, but an important one. Holtzclaw is using this round of visits to gauge which schools he feels he fits best. Not only system-wise, but also culturally.

“Building relationships is a big thing,” Holtzclaw added. “I mean, I have built some great relationships with a lot of coaches already and to keep building those is a big thing. The, how I fit into their offense and program and how they are going to grow me as a better person. Not just in football, but outside of football.”

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