CLEMSON — Cade Klubnik got the best 15 practices he could ask for this past spring.

“I get to show up and not know what they are doing at all,” Clemson’s starting quarterback said.

Klubnik did not know what they were doing because the defense was doing something different for the first time in his career.

This past January, head coach Dabo Swinney changed things up and brought in former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to run his defense.

“I love it,” Klubnik said. “I think that its fun as a quarterback because I am getting a new challenge. I am not having to go up against the same defense for four years.”

Klubnik showed up on the first day of practice and did not recognize anything at all. It was the first time he saw what Allen will do on defense, and it took him a while to adjust.

“I have no idea what they are running. It is just reactionary,” the quarterback said. “It is a fun little twist for me. It is fun to see the game in a different way. It is fun to go against something different.”

Allen’s defenses are based out of a 4-2-5 scheme, though they could show 4-3 or 3-4 looks at times if he wants to. His defenses are known for being big and fast up front and flexible on the backend.

The former Indiana head coach will bring all kinds of different looks, but the core of his defense is tackling and getting to the football – all 11 men flying to the ball at the same time.

Allen’s defense generally fit his personality – tough and mentally strong and good in the fundamentals. He wants to stop the run first, evidence by Penn State’s No. 9 ranking against the run and No. 7 ranking in yards per carry allowed in 2024.

He likes to feature an edge rusher that is standing up, in hopes to confuse quarterbacks, as he will sometimes bring him off the edge or have him drop back in coverage. At times, his defense can give the appearance of a 3-4 zone, but with the principal and personnel of a 4-2-5.

“I love what they are doing on that side of the ball. It’s exciting,” Klubnik said.