Cade Klubnik says fans can expect more involvement with tight ends

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik enters his second season with the Tigers with a new offensive coordinator, former TCU play caller Garrett Riley. There will be some changes to Clemson’s new-look offense, some of which were seen in the Tigers’ spring game. Klubnik was able to find tight end Jake Briningstool early in the spring game on a chunk play, and after the game, he was asked if that was a glimpse of what can be expected during the season.

“Yeah I would say so,” Klubnik said

Clemson’s tight ends were pretty heavily used in their offense last season, with Briningstool ranked fifth on the team in receptions and receiving yards with 25 catches for 285 and 4 scores last season and Davis Allen‘s 39 grabs for 443 yards and four touchdowns ranking third. Tight ends accounted for 10 of Clemson’s 24 receiving touchdowns last season, and could be poised for an even bigger season this year.

The tight ends weren’t quite as utilized at TCU under Riley, but a more open, air-raid style offense involving run fakes and run-pass option plays was. Which Klubnik seems to be a fan of.

“Yeah I like it, it’s a lot of play action, RPO stuff so brings me back to high school sometimes,” Klhubnik said.

It sounds like Riley is catering the offense to the strengths and comfort of Klubnik, as he started off the spring game by completing eight of his first nine pass attempts for 62 yards. He’d ended the game 18 for 33 with 190 yards, throwing two interceptions as well, but as he settles more into the offense it will be interesting to see who’s involved.

Cade Klubnik shares excitement over Clemson running game

Garrett Riley brought his air-raid offense to Clemson this offseason, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers will go away from running the ball.

Clemson has two of the top running backs in the ACC in Will Shipley and Phil Mafah, and Riley plans to get both of them plenty of work this fall.

Shipley is back after rushing for 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, while Mafah finished with 515 yards and four scores. Both backs averaged more than 5 yards per carry.

“I mean we’ve got Will Shipley and Phil Mafah in the backfield,” Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik said following the spring game. “We’re gonna use them.”

Shipley missed the spring game due to a minor injury, but he is expected to be fine for summer workouts.

Mafah rushed 11 times for 42 yards and a touchdown in the Orange and White game. His teammate on the White — Keith Adams Jr. — had 11 carries for 50 yards and a score.

“You got to see that today with Phil, I mean he’s a baller,” Klubnik said. “So it’s fun to have them both back there. We didn’t have Will out there today and still ran the ball great.”  

While Riley has the reputation of being a pass-happy offensive coordinator, his TCU offense ran the ball 566 times last season, compared to 454 pass attempts.

TCU also had one of the top running backs in the country last year in Kendre Miller, who carried the ball 224 times for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns. Shipley and Mafah will look to replicate that production for the Tigers this season.

On3’s Matt Connolly contributed to this report