Cade Klubnik evaluates his performance midway through season

Clemson starting quarterback Cade Klubnik‘s first full season as the team’s starting quarterback has been more of a whirlwind than he or the team would like. The Tigers dropped two games before the end of September and find themselves entering Week 7 with a 4-2 record and 2-2 mark in conference play.

Klubnik was asked during a press conference this week to grade his season so far.

“I don’t know about an actual grade,” Klubnik said. “But, for me, I feel like I’ve seen myself get better every week in certain categories. For one, you just look to the first two games, after that, I got all the dumb crap out of the way, in my mind and just got that out of the way. I kind of let loose on FAU and just truly started slinging it. Florida State, I feel like my best attribute was sitting in there like he was just talking about, sitting in there and truly trusting the offensive line. Syracuse, I feel like I really got to use my legs for the first time. I feel like I got to use it a few times before but really in a scramble mode.”

On the season, Klubnik has thrown for 1,370 yards and 11 touchdowns while completing 137 of 210 passes with two interceptions. He also has 120 rushing yards on the year with three more scores.

The second-half slate for the Tigers is more difficult than its schedule in the first half of the year. Clemson has three more games against teams currently ranked in the top 25 plus a rivalry game on the road versus South Carolina.

But if Klubnik can continue his upward trajectory, it would be a major win for Clemson

“Then this past week, I feel like I actually got to use my legs in more truly running,” Klubnik said. “I feel like there was a few times where they were dropping eight guys and they’re kind of covering some guys up, I kind of get to use my speed a little bit and get around the edge and get some good yards. I feel like I’ve kind of just added a little bit more every single week in my mind. Now just put it all together in one game and use it when it’s needed. That’s that’s kind of what I’ve seen so far. But I still got a long way to go.”