Tag: Hunter Helms

Former Clemson quarterback Hunter Helms transfers to Rhode Island

Former Clemson quarterback Hunter Helms is heading north.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program have lost their backup quarterback from the 2023 season.

After announcing he would enter the transfer portal in November, Hunter Helms is transferring to Rhode Island to continue his football career. The school announced this news Friday, a big pickup for their program.

A former walk-on, Helms earned his way into a scholarship after hard work and solid play. He Helms completed 23 of 37 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns, adding four carries for 13 yards in 79 career snaps over nine games at Clemson from 2020 to 23. As a redshirt junior this season, he completed 9 of 12 passes for 83 yards and rushed once for 16 yards in 31 snaps.

Dabo Swinney on if Clemson plans to dip into the transfer portal to add a QB

Dabo Swinney is comfortable with where his team is at quarterback right now.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney held a press conference Tuesday and was asked about the Tigers’ current quarterback situation and if they plan on looking to add a quarterback from the transfer portal.

With the departure of backup quarterback Hunter Helms, the Tigers could be seen as thin at the position. Regardless, Swinney is comfortable with where this team is at the position and doesn’t plan on addressing it in the portal.

“No, we talk about that at every position, but we like the guys we have, and we like who’s coming,” Swinney said. “So, we feel pretty good about the direction that we have there.”

“If Paul wasn’t here and we didn’t feel like we feel about Trent Pearman, then we would probably have to go find somebody else,” Swinney said.

The Tigers will return Paul Tyson in a student coach role, but he will also remain their fourth-string quarterback. Tyson gives them comfort at the position with four guys. Swinney will prepare him if No.3 quarterback Trent Pearman can’t go.

“We really, really like Trent Pearman. He’s got some moxie and savvy,” Swinney said. “And those of you that have watched him play, this kid was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of South Carolina. This ain’t no slouch, now. This kid can play. He needed to get a little bigger, he needed to get a little stronger, but he’s got savvy, he’s got instincts, he’s got moxie. I mean, he is a really, really, really, really good third-team quarterback.

“So, that’s what we got, and then we got Paul, who’s a sixth-year guy who’s got a wealth of experience who could go win the game for us in the Gator Bowl if we need him to. We got him. So, that’s where we are.”

The name people are most likely excited about is Christopher Vizzina, who will take over as the Tigers’ No.2 QB. Vizzina redshirted this season as he prepares for a bigger role down the line.

“We’re excited about CV,” Swinney said of Vizzina, the former blue-chip recruit from Alabama. “We’re kind of executing the plan that we put in place. This was a highly recruited guy that could have gone to a lot of places, and he chose to come (to Clemson). He was only 17, so that was kind of what we recruited him, to redshirt.”

Clemson is in a fine position at quarterback right now, and they have their guy in starting quarterback Cade Klubnik.

Clemson football 2023 transfer portal tracker

Here is a transfer tracker to track who is leaving and who is joining the program.

Dabo Swinney and the Tigers finished the regular season with an 8-4 (4-4 ACC) record, performing well but also below expectations as the offense failed to keep up with the high level of play from the defense.

We head into the conference championship and bowl season with the regular season over. However, it is more than just that, as it is also the beginning of transfer portal season. All across the country, players are entering their names in the transfer portal as they look for new opportunities at different programs. Clemson is no different than others, as multiple Tigers have entered their name into the portal as their time with the program has come to an end.

To keep you updated, below is our transfer portal tracker with every Tiger who has entered the portal so far. We will update accordingly as more news continues.

Updated 12/11

Clemson quarterback enters the transfer portal

Clemson quarterback Hunter Helms announces he is entering the transfer portal.

Redshirt junior quarterback Hunter Helms has announced that he will enter the transfer portal, ending his time with the Tigers. 

A former walk-on for the Tigers, Helms spent the last four years with Clemson before announcing this decision. In nine appearances, Helms totaled 218 passing yards and two touchdowns.

“I couldn’t have had a better four years,” Helms said to start his social media statement. “I have learned so many life lessons and have gained lifelong friends while doing it. The many things I learned will be with me for the rest of my life. I am very thankful for the coaches, trainers, and staff that helped me be my best every day on and off the field.

“I want to thank all my teammates and roommates. Y’all are the ones who have made these past four years so special. It truly is a brotherhood, and Clemson is a better place because y’all are there.”

We now wait to hear where Helms will continue his college football career.

Swinney asked if Clemson might give backup QB Hunter Helms a chance to play

Dabo Swinney on the possibility of Hunter Helms getting a chance to play.

The Clemson football program is having its worst season in years, and there have been many questioning the Tigers and where the program is heading. 

During Dabo Swinney’s radio call-in show Monday night, the head coach was asked about starting quarterback Cade Klubnik and at what point would he and his staff consider giving backup quarterback Hunter Helms a chance to play. 

Klubnik is the Tigers guy, but Swinney also never said it wasn’t a possibility. 

“We haven’t been in that situation yet where we felt like it was warranted to bench him if you will,” Swinney said of Klubnik. “That doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen, but nobody on our staff offensively, Garrett (Riley) – we haven’t had a situation where we’ve felt like OK, hey, we need to sit this guy down.”

“Cade is our quarterback, and he’s going to be a great one,” Swinney said. “These are some tremendous opportunities to really develop this young man and grow him. He did a lot of great things. He was 33-of-50 (against NC State last Saturday) and certainly missed a couple plays as well. But he gives us the best chance to win.”

Through eight games this season, Klubnik has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 1,947 yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He’s had his moments, but we’ve also seen some questionable play from the quarterback. 

He will look to put together a strong performance Saturday in a big game against Notre Dame.

Clemson WR earns No. 1 spot in the ‘SportsCenter’ Top 10

A Clemson WR made an impressive one-handed catch against Charleston Southern on Saturday.

A Clemson wide receiver earned the No. 1 spot in “SportsCenter’s” Top 10 on Monday.

Playing against Charleston Southern on Saturday, Clemson quarterback Hunter Helms connected with Hamp Greene for a one-handed, leaping catch near the right sideline. The play resulted in a 12-yard gain and a first down.

The play marked Greene’s third career reception. The walk-on receiver caught two balls in 2022 and has appeared in 10 games since he joined the team in 2019.

Check out the highlight:

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Swinney gives injury update on Clemson’s backup QB

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gave an injury update on the Tigers’ injured backup quarterback.

Following the Tigers’ first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney spoke to the media and gave an injury update on backup quarterback Hunter Helms.

Swinney said that there is no firm timetable on the return of Helms, but his sprained right foot is not a long-term concern, and everything is “intact.”

“We’ll get Hunter back sooner rather than later,” Swinney said.

Helms was spotted in a walking boot at Thursday’s practice but was dressed in pads.

Swinney added that fifth-year Paul Tyson is the backup quarterback until Helms returns. True freshman Christopher Vizzina is currently serving as the third-string quarterback. Still, the plan to redshirt Vizzina remains the same unless something happens to starting quarterback Cade Klubnik, Swinney said.

Originally a walk-on, Helms has played in five games over three seasons with the Tigers. Over those five games, he has completed 14 of 25 pass attempts for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He did not appear in any games in 2022.

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Clemson QB spotted in a boot at fall camp

A Clemson quarterback was spotted in a boot at practice on Thursday.

A Clemson quarterback was spotted in a boot at practice on Thursday.

Hunter Helms was wearing a boot on his right foot, according to multiple media members in attendance on Thursday. Helms was limited but was still wearing pads, according to The State’s Chapel Fowler.

Helms has been second on the depth chart behind Cade Klubnik this fall camp.

Originally a walk-on, Helms has played in five games over three seasons with the Tigers. Over those five games, he has completed 14 of 25 pass attempts for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He did not appear in any games in 2022.

Taking second-team snaps instead of Helms on Thursday was Paul Tyson, who transferred to Clemson from Arizona State this offseason. True freshman Christopher Vizzina took third-team reps.

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Vizzina gives his thoughts on potentially redshirting in 2023

Clemson freshman quarterback Christopher Vizzina spoke to the media for the first time on Saturday.

Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina spoke to the media on Saturday for the first time since joining the Tigers’ roster this spring.

Speaking at a Dear Old Clemson NIL event, Vizzina gave his thoughts on the Tigers’ plan for him to redshirt his freshman season.

“That was a possibility coming into this, but it doesn’t discourage me at all,” Vizzina said. “I want to learn. I want to be ready for when my chance comes; I want to be prepared for it.”

Coming out of high school, Vizzina was the No. 6 quarterback prospect in the class of 2023, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

As a mid-year enrollee, the former four-star recruit struggled in Clemson’s spring game in April, throwing two interceptions and completing three of nine pass attempts for nine yards.

“I got here, new offense and everything. I hit the learning curve a little bit early on, but I felt like I finally got adjusted to it, maybe after three practices, and I started rolling from there,” Vizzina said. “I’m glad I came early. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I came in the summer. Just trying to be ready to play and everything like that, I feel like coming in the spring was definitely the right decision.”

Head coach Dabo Swinney said earlier this week that the plan is to redshirt Vizzina, making Hunter Helms the presumed backup quarterback behind Cade Klubnik.

“We hope that (Vizzina) can be our ’23 signee and our ’24 signee, if you will, and it really kind of sets us up with a good situation with Cade being a junior and him being a redshirt freshman, which tells you how we feel about CV. I think we got a great player right there,” Swinney said.

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Klubnik: There’s ‘love’ among Clemson’s QBs

Cade Klubnik didn’t have to do much with his most recent game reps other than hold onto the ball. Clemson’s latest blue-chip quarterback signee found himself getting his most critical playing time of his freshman season last week when he entered the …

Cade Klubnik didn’t have to do much with his most recent game reps other than hold onto the ball.

Clemson’s latest blue-chip quarterback signee found himself getting his most critical playing time of his freshman season last week when he entered the Syracuse game in the second half with the Tigers trailing 21-10. His number was called because of three turnovers committed by D.J. Uiagalelei, who was benched after his overthrow of tight end Davis Allen turned into his second interception midway through the third quarter.

Klubnik is the faster of the two quarterbacks. But on a day when Clemson ran for a season-high 293 yards, Klubnik ran it (six times for 15 yards) more than he threw it primarily because that’s what was working. Most importantly, he didn’t fumble. And none of his four passes ended up the hands of any Orange defenders as Clemson held onto the ball long enough to rally for a 27-21 win that kept their perfect record intact.

“Just excited to get my moment,” Klubnik said.

Klubnik wasn’t perfect. During his first series, the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder took a sack that could’ve been avoided had he stepped up into the pocket instead of trying to escape it, a learning moment for the youngster. But he also flashed his talent on a two-point play after Clemson’s go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter, avoiding pressure long enough to find Joseph Ngata tight-roping the back of the end zone for the conversion.

Despite entering the game at an adverse moment, Klubnik said he was confident for a couple of reasons. Some of it came naturally after already playing in four games and trying as much as possible to mimic those kinds of reps all season in practice.

“Coach Swinney has been saying that confidence comes from preparation,” Klubnik said. “We prepare every week like every single one of us is going to start the game.”

Klubnik said some of that confidence given to him by the other four quarterbacks in his position room. Uiagalelei and Klubnik are joined there by transfer Hunter Johnson and former walk-ons Hunter Helms and Billy Wiles.

They all compete with each other, but they’re also each other’s biggest fans. That was no more apparent than when Uiagalelei pulled Klubnik aside before entering Saturday’s game, offering some words of advice and tapping him on the helmet for good measure.

“D.J.’s going to lead us,” Klubnik said. “We’re right behind him. So that whole QB room, it’s all so tight. Just the love that we have in there. There’s not really one guy that stands out. Obviously D.J. obviously is the guy, but we’re all just so tight and all have so much trust. When I finally got in there, I was kind of ready.”