CLEMSON — It has been a long time since Clemson has been explosive in the passing game.

In fact, it has been since Trevor Lawrence averaged a Clemson record 315.3 yards per game in 2020. In that season, Amari Rodgers led the Tigers with 77 receptions for 1,020 yards and seven scores, while Cornell Powell caught 53 passes for 882 yards and seven scores as well.

That season, Lawrence threw touchdown passes of 83 yards, 70 yards and 54 yards. In all, Clemson had 10-pass plays of 23 yards or more and 29 touchdowns.

With Garrett Riley beginning his second season as Clemson’s quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator and with the additions of Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore at wide receiver, quarterback Cade Klubnik feels the Tigers can get back to being the explosive offense everyone around the country got used to watching when Deshaun Watson and Lawrence were leading the way.

“We battled with a lot of injuries last year at receiver,” quarterback Cade Klubnik said. “So much of the off-season is gaining chemistry. So, gaining chemistry with your receivers and (other skill players) is so important.”

Due to injuries and then missing on a few prospects, Clemson’s level of production in the passing game has regressed and defenses do not respect it enough.

Last year, Antonio Williams missed most of the season due to injuries, while Tyler Brown was in and out of the lineup too. Cole Turner missed the entire season with an abdominal injury and Beaux Collins, who has since transferred to Notre Dame, missed the last part of the season due to injuries as well.

“We had guys battling through a lot of injuries last year,” Klubnik said.

And that affected Klubnik, too. Especially when it came to creating the necessary chemistry he needed with his wide receivers.

“We had guys that really could not practice and we just kind had guys get well enough for every game,” he said. “They played the game, but they really did not practice. I think getting those reps throughout the week is going to be huge.”

This summer, Klubnik has Williams and Brown both back, as well as Adam Randall and Troy Stellato. Misun Kelley is also back from injury. Throw in the two true freshmen, who many considered to be two of the best young receivers of 2024, and all of sudden Clemson has some weapons in the passing game.

“Last year, we would get to the actual game, and it would be my first time throwing a route to a certain guy, like ever,” Klubnik said. “I have not been able to rep that route with him because he has been battling an injury. It is not my fault, it is not his fault, it is nobody’s fault. It is just kind of the way the cards are dealt with sometimes. So, I think just really having everybody available is going to be really good for us.”

Clemson opens the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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