Expectations are in place for Cade Klubnik to be one of college football’s best quarterbacks next season.
With Klubnik back, Clemson is considered by many to be a legitimate contender for a national title in 2025. The rising senior has also been listed as one of the favorites to win the Heisman.
No one expects more from Klubnik than his head coach, and that’s why Dabo Swinney was a little disappointed in his quarterback’s performance in the Tigers’ first spring scrimmage just before the team broke for spring break.
However, Swinney made it clear after the team’s most recent scrimmage on Wednesday that Klubnik is in the midst of one of his best springs.
“He’s had a really good spring,” Swinney said after the Tigers’ scrimmage on Wednesday. “I didn’t think he was as sharp as he needed to be in that first scrimmage. It was just a couple of things that I just expect of him at this stage. Two years ago, I might not have said anything. But at this point, he’s got to be a coach on the field for us.”
In fact, Klubnik’s performance in that first scrimmage gave Swinney an opportunity that he rarely gets with his quarterback these days.
“Anytime you get an opportunity to yell at those guys, it’s great. He don’t get a lot of those opportunities,” Swinney added. “But you take advantage of it when you get a chance to coach these best players hard. Fortunately for him, he doesn’t give you a lot of that kind of opportunity.”
Klubnik is coming off an outstanding junior campaign. The quarterback completed 63.4% of his passes for 3,639 yards with 36 touchdowns to just six interceptions. He added another 463 rushing yards with seven scoring runs.
By all accounts, he’s picked up right where he left off, minus a couple of plays from that one scrimmage. And with the amount of experience Clemson has returning on the offensive side of the ball, that bodes well for the Tigers as they get close to wrapping up spring practice.
“He’s been good,” Swinney said. “He bounced back and has had a good couple of days. I think he was 5-for-7 today and did what he needed to do with his reps.”
Photo courtesy of Dawson Powers