Eric Mac Lain: Cade Klubnik starting over DJ Uiagalei 'is not crazy'

Clemson starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei had a season to forget last year. Despite that, the junior quarterback headed into spring ball as the unquestioned leader and likely starter for next season after his biggest competition Taisun Phommachanh elected to transfer in December. However, thanks to true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik, that may not be the case anymore.

On a recent episode of McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, the hosts spoke with former Tigers offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, who gave a surprising take when asked about the likelihood of Klubnik taking over as the starter.

“Yeah, no, I do not think it’s crazy,” said Mac Lain. “Let me tell you, this if he is not gotten better, if he is not progressed, then it might be earlier than game for. … Looking at Cade specifically he’s ready to go. And (he’s) a guy that is fundamentally ready for this offense. He basically played it in high school. The things that they did very similar to what Clemson does in regards to that spread it out, throw the ball deep, try to use a little bit more of the middle than Clemson has in the past.”

Klubnik put the pressure on Uiagalelei when he enrolled at Clemson early and was an active participant in this spring training. The former Austin Westlake quarterback is a five-star prospect from the 2022 class, according to the On3 consensus rating. He is the No. 27 overall player in his class, No. 3 quarterback and No. 12 player coming out of Texas.

If Uiagalelei does not show significant improvement from last year, then the Tiger could take a familiar route and start a true freshman quarterback. The last time Clemson did that, it worked out well in their favor with Trevor Lawrence delivering a national title.

Clemson linebacker sets lofty goal for 2022 season

Former five-star linebacker Trenton Simpson saw a spike in his production during his sophomore season with the Clemson Tigers, and expects an even higher jump for year three. He has now set a goal of at least 10 sacks for the 2022 season, he announced on social media.

ESPN’s Todd McShay currently has Simpson going No. 22 overall in his way too early 2023 NFL Mock Draft, and ESPN also has him as a member of their way too early preseason First-Team All-American list. Vegas even has given him the 17th best odds to be selected No. 1 overall next season, so 10 sacks certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

In two season’s with the Tigers, Simpson has compiled 10 sacks total, six of which came during his sophomore season in 2021. The blue-chipper hit the ground running when he came into the program out of Charlotte, North Carolina, producing numbers from the moment he stepped onto the football field each Saturday.

Simpson has compiled 93 tackles, including 58 solo, two pass deflections and one forced fumble. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker saw his numbers spike in his sophomore season, and had the best game of his career against Louisville, notching 10 total tackles (seven solo) and 2.0 sacks.