Barrett Carter sees a different vibe from Clemson's offense

Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter provided media members with a vibe check of the Tigers’ new offense as fall camp is underway at Clemson. Newly hired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik will lead the charge this year as the Tigers look to defend their ACC Championship from a season ago.

Carter has had a front-row seat to Clemson’s new-look offense from facing them during spring practice and now at fall camp, and recently spoke about what separates that unit from last years.

“Yeah I just really feel like the camaraderie within the offense has just been second to none,” Carter said. “Especially coming in with a new OC, new quarterback I think the vibe over there has just been different and Cade has taken that role and he’s ran with it.”

The Tigers hired Riley after an impressive season as TCU‘s offensive coordinator, helping that offense average 455 yards and 38.8 points per game all the way to a national championship appearance.

But according to Carter, the biggest catalyst in the difference of offensive energy has been Cade Klubnik, who enters his sophomore season as the teams unquestioned starter after starting the final two games of the season for the Tigers last year.

“He’s really leading, he’s using his voice, and the other guys are listening to him. Even if it’s a freshman or a fifth-year senior, they’re listening to Cade because that’s the guy. But it’s just been great to see Cade step up into that leadership role and command the attention of the offense,” Carter explained.

Klubnik impressed in his first career start for the Tigers on a giant stage versus North Carolina, where he completed an impressive 20 of his 24 pass attempts for 279 passing yards and a touchdown along with a rushing score in the ACC Championship game.

He didn’t perform as well in his second career start in the Orange Bowl versus Tennessee, where he failed to reach the end zone through the air, completed just 55.6% of his passes, was sacked four times, and threw two interceptions in a 31-14 loss to the Vols.

But as he enters a new season with a new coordinator, it sounds like both his game and leadership have take a step in the right direction, which can be permeated through the rest of the team according to Carter.

“Because other guys, they go as he goes, so just to see him step up like that it’s gonna help the offense but also gonna help defense and special teams as well,” Carter concluded.