Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney will have some key questions to answer about each position during the 2026 season. The Tigers have several position groups that are still uncertain, including quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and defensive end. Let's take a look at some of the most prominent questions from each position group.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney will have some key questions to answer about each position during the 2026 season . As the offseason rolls on, there are still plenty of questions to ask about the 2026 Tigers.
Let's take a look at some of the most prominent ones from each position group. All eyes will be on Christopher Vizzina to be Clemson's next great quarterback. Head coach Dabo Swinney has been noncommittal when asked about who the starting quarterback will be, saying after the spring game in March that the redshirt junior has the advantage over true freshman Reynolds, but this will be the biggest question surrounding the team.
A Week 1 date with LSU in a raucous Tiger Stadium awaits whoever the team turns to. Based on historical precedent under Swinney, it's likely that the veteran will take the first snap. Clemson running back Gideon Davidson will be the frontrunner to be the next starting running back for the Tigers. With the departure of dependable back Adam Randall, the door is open for Davidson to become featured in the 2026 offense.
Though Davidson, a former four-star high school prospect, has just 60 carries under his belt, he received double-digit touches against Duke and Florida State last season. The coaching staff has sung Davidson's praises dating back to last season, and he showed out in the spring game in March (83 yards on 9 carries, including a 35-yard run). Now it's time to continue that production and become a reliable starting back in the ACC.
One of the areas Clemson fans should be most excited about in the immediate future is the firepower at the wide receiver position. True freshmen Naeem Burroughs, Gordon Sellars III, and Connor Salmin (all four-star recruits) are already generating buzz before they've even played a down. Though the wide receiver position is stacked with top-tier talent in Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore, a newcomer could emerge as the third option in the passing game.
New offensive coordinator Chad Morris has a habit of spreading the ball around. In his most recent season as Clemson's offensive coordinator (2014), eight different receivers caught a touchdown. We'll see if that trend continues 12 seasons later. Going into his sophomore season, Brayden Jacobs is expected to be one of the anchors on the Tigers' offensive line.
The son of a Super Bowl champion and physical player himself, Jacobs came to Clemson as a highly-touted offensive tackle prospect that many thought could overwhelm defensive fronts with his 6-foot-7, 355-pound frame. He played in ten games (four starts) in 2025, and was used as an extra offensive lineman in goal-line situations many times. 2026 is an opportunity for the sophomore to carve out a starting role at tackle, something that was expected when Jacobs joined the team.
He has all of the tools to make that transition and be a cornerstone for the Tigers up front. Clemson defensive end Will Heldt will look to build on his junior season in his last year of college football. The best offseason pickup Clemson made a season ago was adding Heldt out of the transfer portal.
After a five-sack season at Purdue in 2024, Heldt stepped his game up in 2025 with the Tigers, logging 7.5 sacks, two batted passes, and a forced fumble. He was the best and most consistent defender in the front seven with multiple NFL players surrounding him. How he improves in 2026 will be pivotal in determining the defense's ceiling. Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown has the capability to play at an All-American level in 2026.
The senior linebacker currently projects as a late first-round pick, according to experts, and expectations have continued to rise. Brown's elite athleticism jumps off his tape, but the down-to-down consistency is something that will determine his NFL viability. As the unquestioned leader of the 2026 defense, it'll be a pivotal season for both Brown and the Tiger defense's futures. Penn State transfer Elliot Washington II will be an x-factor in the Tigers' secondary this season.
Penn State transfer cornerback Elliot Washington was among a sizeable group of transfer defenders for the Tigers, but he may be the most impactful
Clemson Tigers 2026 Season Dabo Swinney Christopher Vizzina Gideon Davidson Naeem Burroughs Gordon Sellars III Brayden Jacobs Will Heldt Sammy Brown Elliot Washington II