CLEMSON — It is rare that Dabo Swinney gets to yell at Cade Klubnik. So, when that opportunity presents itself, the Clemson head coach takes full advantage of the situation.

“But I did get a chance today,” Swinney said jokingly following Wednesday’s practice earlier this week. “I take every chance I get to yell at him.”

Klubnik does not get fussed at often because, as Swinney describes him, he is the same person every day.

“He just has this energy. It does not matter. He loves it,” Swinney said. “Guys like that just keep getting better.”

And Klubnik has gotten better.

After a so-so sophomore season, one in which he suffered growing pains throughout the Tigers’ 9-4 campaign, Klubnik became one of the nation’s best quarterbacks by the end of 2024 season. He totaled 4,102 yards of offense, while accounting for 43 touchdowns.

The best part, for Clemson, was how much he cut down on the turnovers. He threw just six interceptions and lost two fumbles.

“When I got here, he was coming off his sophomore season, which he did not play as good as he would have liked,” wide receiver Bryant Wesco, Jr., said. “So, I know, since I came in, he is always full of energy. He is always working hard. He is always one of the last to come in from practice.

“That is what I saw from him.”

Transfer Tristan Smith, who is expected to be a big addition to the offense this season, says Klubnik has gone out of his way to make him feel at home and has worked hard with him so the two can build the kind of chemistry a quarterback needs with his wide receivers.

“Cade stays after practice and we work on certain throws that he wants to work on,” Smith said. “Work on anything that he wants to work on – over the shoulder, things like that.

“Cade (lives) right by me. So, I see him every day when we come in to do weights, come into practice or into the facility, so I just talk about life with him every day. I am really just building up that relationship with him and that will make the relationship more impactful on the field just by building that relationship off the field.”

As Smith pointed out, part of Klubnik’s growth at quarterback has come by his habits off the field. He is always at the Allen Reeves Football Complex studying film or working out or just spending time with his teammates.

“He is making sure he can lead this offense and then is keeping his positive attitude, which is one of the main things I noticed last year that is the same this year,” Wesco said.

Klubnik has put himself through the gambit this off-season, so he is ready to tackle the expectations for himself and the Tigers.

“He did a lot of study in the off-season and a lot of preparation,” Swinney said. “Lot of mental prep and growth and things like that, putting himself through some stuff film study-wise.

“Cade is a gym-rat. He loves it. He shows up every day. He is the same guy every day. I mean every day.”

And that makes it hard for Swinney to yell at him.

“He gave me one opportunity today, but it is rare,” Swinney joked.