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Clemson football fans are ready for this football season to be put in the rearview. Nothing has seemed to go right for the Tigers as they’ve struggled to a 6-5 mark.
That output is a far cry from the Top 5 ranking the team boasted in late August. There is still one last chance to salvage the year and send the fanbase into the offseason with bragging rights.
The Tigers will travel to Columbia to face rival South Carolina on Saturday. They will look to continue a five-game winning streak in Williams-Brice Stadium.
To do so, they’ll need to stop quarterback LaNorris Sellers, a task that proved difficult in last year’s meeting.
Sellers threw for 164 yards. He ran for 166 more, scoring both of the Gamecocks‘ touchdowns. They’ve made it their mission to slow him down the second time around.
Clemson football imitates LaNorris Sellers.
Reserve quarterback Chris Denson was called upon to mimic the South Carolina passer in order to give the Tigers’ defense a better look at what’s to come.
Denson is a three-star freshman from the state of Florida. He is as athletic as they come according to teammates.
“He’s gonna be good, man,” said teammate TJ Parker. “Lightning fast… He’s got that Florida speed, for sure.”
The quarterback’s recruiting bio references his ability to turn negative plays into positive gains, much like Sellers.
Plays a backyard brand of football. Rather unconventional in his ways but makes plays others simply can’t as he can escape pressure and buy time with a dynamic lower half.
While he hasn’t seen the field much in 2025, the Tigers fully intended to utilize his skillset ahead of their rivalry matchup. A wrench has been thrown into that plan.
Chris Denson was injured.
Dabo Swinney says Clemson frosh QB Chris Denson was wearing No. 16 yesterday to help the Tigers defense prepare for South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers.
But Denson hurt his foot during practice, wasn’t able to finish. Doesn’t know about his prognosis.
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) November 25, 2025
Denson’s foot was stepped on while taking his scout team reps. His timetable for a return is unclear.
If unable to come back this week for South Carolina prep, the Tigers will be forced to find another quarterback to impersonate LaNorris Sellers.
The Clemson football team will be without its starting tight end, a key pass rusher, and at least one offensive lineman against the Gamecocks. That made winning a rivalry game on the road difficult enough.
Now, the injury bug has hit the scout team, too, and at maybe the most important position.