CLEMSON — Cade Klubnik is about to embark on his third season as Clemson’s starting quarterback. He is also about to start his third season with Garrett Riley being his position coach and offensive coordinator.
Klubnik’s familiarity with Riley, along with their relationship as player and coach, are two reasons why the fourth-ranked Tigers are predicted to do so well this coming season.
Last year, in Klubnik’s second season under Riley’s guidance, there was a significant jump in production from both an offensive standpoint and from Klubnik’s standpoint. It’s only natural to think both will be much improved this coming season.
In 2024, Clemson ranked 11th nationally (451.9 ypg) in total offense and 18th in scoring offense (34.7 ppg). As for Klubnik, he totaled 4,102 yards in total offense (10th nationally) and accounted for 43 total touchdowns (third nationally).
Besides Klubnik, the Clemson offense also returns four starters on the offensive line, and one of the best groups of wide receivers in the country.
However, Klubnik says they have not arrived yet.
“Red zone for sure (can improve), starting off, and just continuing to be more explosive,” the senior quarterback said. “Get the ball down field. We got the offense to do it. We got an offensive line that can protect. I think we have a really good run game that is really going to help us.”
Klubnik also has a little bit more freedom in the offense, sort of.
“It’s not like I can go up there and run whatever I want,” he said. “Coach Riley enables the quarterbacks to…sometimes you have to go play ball and when you see something, you are going to go do it.
“Being able to prepare during the week and see things on film that might hit or check into something…it is also not checking out of a good play to get to another good play, its checking out of bad play to check into a really good play, especially down there (in the red zone).”
Klubnik said the offense is still controlled by Riley, but there are some freedoms he has to put the Tigers in better situations. The main things Riley wants to see out of his quarterback and the rest of the offense is to execute at a high level.
“Just keep doing those things really well and take care of the football and do not shoot ourselves in the foot,” Klubnik said. “Just take care of the ball and do what we do.”
Clemson will start to do what it does on Aug. 30, when it hosts No. 9 LSU in the season opener for both schools. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.