Cade Klubnik deflects question about facing off against fellow ACC contender FSU

Early in the 2023 season, quarterback Cade Klubnik and the Clemson Tigers are going to be playing a key game against Florida State. In what many people think could be an ACC Championship Game preview, there is a ton of excitement for the game.

However, when asked about this game by former Seminoles quarterback EJ Manuel at the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff, Klubnik deflected the question.

“It’s obviously a game that everybody’s going to be talking about, but right now my mentality and our team’s mentality is we start Fall camp on Wednesday,” Cade Klubnik said. “And we are locked and loaded for that right now and we are ready for our first opponent in Raleigh, North Carolina versus Duke.”

Clemson has three games before taking on Florida State, including against a tough conference opponent in Duke. After that, the Tigers take on Charleston Southern and FAU before playing Florida State in late September.

“We’re ready for that game right now. We’re not ready for it but that’s what we’re preparing for, and that’s what we’re looking at right now,” Klubnik said.

“At the end of the day, every single week, we’re playing Clemson. That’s who we play every single week. That’s who we get ready to go attack. And, I believe, if we play our best game every single week that’s what we can accomplish. So, we’re focused on where we are right now and when that game comes, it’ll come.”

Cade Klubnik came to Clemson as a five-star recruit in the Class of 2022, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He took over as the Tigers’ at the end of last season and helped lead Clemson to an ACC Championship and Orange Bowl appearance.

This year, Klubnik hopes to improve on 2022 and make it back to the College Football Playoff. To do that, he and the Tigers are taking things one step at a time.

Cade Klubnik on his relationship with Garrett Riley

Clemson has a new offensive coordinator for the 2023 season in Garrett Riley. Already, Cade Klubnik feels good about their relationship.

“So, far, I love Coach Riley. I think since the first day that he’s gotten here, I’ve immediately hit off a great connection as soon as I realized we had a Texas guy coming into the room. I mean, there’s not very many in Clemson. So, it was great to talk brisket and then football right after. So, that’s been really good,” Klubnik said.

“But as far as schematic-wise, it’s been really good. It’s been really awesome. I think that it enables our playmakers to make plays and just, really, just a friendly offense and a great offense that I think is going to make our playmakers have opportunities. So, it’s been good.”