Cade Klubnik shares biggest excitement for Clemson's trip to Miami

No. 7 Clemson is set to take on No. 6 Tennessee in this year’s Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 30, but starting quarterback Cade Klubnik is looking forward to Clemson’s trip to Miami for multiple reasons after a rollercoaster season.

Not the least among those is the chance to unwind a little bit.

“It’ll be fun. Just kind of get away from it a little bit,” Klubnik said. “I’m getting to go home for about three days before, before we head down there. I haven’t been home since June, so I’m super excited about that. It’ll be really fun to just kind of get out of Clemson a little bit.

“Obviously we get to go out of Clemson a lot because we’ve got a lot of road games, but just to kind of settle it down for a few days.”

Klubnik finally wrestled the starting job away from incumbent starter DJ Uiagalelei at season’s end, impressing when he took over in the ACC Championship Game against North Carolina and leading the Tigers to a dominant 39-10 win.

He finished the ACC title game 20-of-24 pssing for 279 passing yards and a touchdown, while adding 30 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to his total, as well.

“Cade man, he was ready. You got a chance to see what he can do, and he played with rhythm,” coach Dabo Swinney said after the game, naming him the starter. “Guys made plays for him. You see he’s really, really fast. Can really make plays with his legs. Think he might’ve been our leading — we didn’t really rush the ball very much, but I think he might’ve been our leading rusher on top of that. It was a great night, and again a glimpse to our future, and what it looks like at Clemson. So I’m really happy for him, and he’ll be — you know, he’s earned the opportunity to start.

“We’ve got a few weeks here, whoever we play in the Orange Bowl. I’m excited to see him continue to build on it, and again build, have a great finish and build some momentum going into next year.”

It’s still a business trip to Miami for Clemson

Though Klubnik lit up when asked about the chance for Clemson to take the trip down to Miami for the Orange Bowl, he also had a calm sense of focus.

He knows it’s his time to shine. Uiagalelei has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

For all intents and purposes, the job is right there for the taking for Klubnik. It’s his team, his chance to lead. And that starts in the Orange Bowl.

“Obviously it’s a business trip while we’re down there,” he said. “Obviously we’ll have some fun, going to the beach and stuff, but got to come back with a ring from that one.”

Clemson’s trip to Miami will be a new experience in more ways than one for him.

“I’ve been to the airport, that’s it,” he said.