Dabo Swinney reflects on Cade Klubnik's first season as starter, areas of improvement

The Clemson Tigers will be looking upon quarterback Cade Klubnik to take a leap in his second year as a starter ahead of the 2024 season. Bursting onto the scene as a true freshman in the 2022 ACC title game but failing to lead the program back to that stage last season.

Klubnik’s redshirt freshman season had its ups and down, and at ACC Media Days on Thursday, his head coach Dabo Swinney reflected on his first full season under center.

“If we judged quarterbacks by what they did year one, we’d miss out on some of the greatest quarterbacks that have ever played the game. They were terrible in year one, and he wasn’t terrible year one,” Sweeney said.

“We went 9-4, we lost in double overtime, lost in overtime, lost on a pick-six that was tipped that wasn’t on him. We had some tough games, but this guy got better and he’s got to take the next step. And what does that mean? He had too many fumbles. I mean I’m talking on the goal line, ball exchange, I mean those are things that just can’t happen. That’s the fundamental stuff.”

Klubnik threw for 2,844 yards (third in the ACC), 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions last season for the Tigers. With Swinney also referencing taking sacks, tackles for loss, and making smarter decisions with his legs as areas of improvement for Klubnik.

“So just taking the next step of the game slowing down, cutting down on the negative plays that he controls, and then physically developing, leadership. He’s done all of that, we’ve seen all that. So now he’s got to go do it on the field bright lights, and he’s a winner,” Swinney said. “Kid’s won his whole life.”

Klubnik was a three-time state champion in high school while going undefeated as a starter, but now faces a new level of adversity. Tasked with meeting the expectations for one of the few programs in the country that expects to win week in and week out and blocking out the noise in the process.

“Because if you’re affected by other people’s opinions, criticism, and all that you’re not going to develop. I always say the fire has to come from within,” Swinney explained. “You can grab some fuel for the fire, that’s awesome, but it can’t be the fire. The fire has to come from within and who you are, and what your purpose is. And man he’s made of the right stuff and if you are, are adversity usually makes you better and that’s what I’ve seen with him.”

In recent history, the Tigers have been elite at the quarterback position. A standard that Clemson will look upon Klubnik to uphold in a major way ahead of a high-stakes 2024 season for him and the program as they long for another appearance in the postseason and championship success.