Cade Klubnik reveals biggest difference in Clemson's offense this year

Clemson returned 79% of its offensive production from the 2023 season — the 13th most in the country — according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly, and that’s making a big difference for third-year quarterback Cade Klubnik and the unit he’s piloting.

Actually, Klubnik said it’s the biggest difference between this year and last year.

“I think we’ve just had a really good mindset, more than anything,” Klubnik said Tuesday. “We were a really young team last year, and it’s a team that’s [now] just a lot smarter.

“Guys have got a little bit more experience, kind of all over. When it comes to receivers, offensive line, quarterback, running back, just a lot of guys that have played a lot of ball now and a lot of returning starters. So I’d say that’s one of the biggest things is just getting to come back in the same offense again is huge — not having to have your first fall camp in a new offense and kind of getting to run things you’ve already been running.”

Klubnik reiterated: “It’s huge.”

Clemson is No. 14 in the preseason AP Top 25. That’s after head coach Dabo Swinney’s squad finished the 2023 campaign No. 20, its lowest final AP ranking since 2011. The Tigers won nine games, their fewest in a single season since 2010.

For the third straight year, the Clemson offense just wasn’t quite right. This time, the Tigers were 52nd nationally with 29.8 points per game. Klubnik completed 63.9% of his passes but had six games where he was below that mark. He also posted a 19:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio that teased the story of his inconsistencies.

Once the On3 Industry Ranking’s top quarterback in the 2022 class, Klubnik is looking to break out in Year 3. Luckily for him, he’s equipped with one of the best running backs in the ACC, Phil Mafah, and a future NFL tight end in Jake Briningstool. Klubnik’s also got a pair of highly-touted true freshman receivers — TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco — bursting with potential.

Being more comfortable ahead of Klubnik’s second season with offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Garrett Riley is a good starting point for the Austin, Texas, native.

“It’s something about throwing a 50-yard vertical route, just little things about that — I just feel like I’m making plays that I wouldn’t have made last year, just smarter plays,” Klubnik said. “I’ve just learned how to manage the game better, just getting to play. And I’ve kind of seen that. I feel like the coaches have seen that through me.

“We’re just doing things that we wouldn’t have done last year, and we’re doing now — or things we would have done last year, and we’re not doing now. So [it’s] just a team that is more experienced more than anything offensively.”