Dabo Swinney reveals game plan with Cade Klubnik prior to breakout ACC title performance

The Clemson Tigers clinched the ACC title on Saturday behind the arm of freshman Cade Klubnik. He took over for DJ Uiagalelei and helped lead the Tigers to a 39-10 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. According to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, the plan was always to get the young backup into the game early.

“We went into the game saying we were gonna play (Klubnik) on the third series,” Swinney said. “We hoped DJ would start off well. He didn’t, and so Cade came in and did a heck of a job. The reality is, we wouldn’t have won the Atlantic and we wouldn’t have been here tonight without DJ, and we wouldn’t have won the ACC championship without Cade.

“It’s awesome to see this young man grow up. We tried to make the change at Notre Dame, he wasn’t quite ready. DJ bounced back, and played well against Louisville and Miami. But tonight was an opportunity for (Cade). He’s ready. He worked his butt off all year. It’s great to see him play.”

Versus North Carolina, Klubnik went 20-for-24 with 279 passing yards, 30 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Klubnik takes the reins

The Orange Bowl, coming up on Dec. 30 in Miami, Florida, will mark the official start of the Klubnik era at Clemson. The Tigers will face the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers.

The former five-star prospect had several opportunities to take over the starting job before Saturday, which Swinney pointed out after the game.

“Thought he might take it in the Notre Dame game, it didn’t work out,” Swinney said after the win. “But he’s just kept grinding and kept preparing and tonight he took it and didn’t look back.”

Prior to the ACC title game, Klubnik led Clemson to a tough 27-21 win over Syracuse on Oct. 22. He took over after Uiagalelei threw two interceptions and the Tigers fell behind 21-10. Klubnik led the comeback, driving Clemson down the field twice in the fourth quarter.

He got his chance again the following week after Clemson trailed Notre Dame 14-0 late in the third quarter. He threw an interception and Notre Dame scored three plays later, essentially putting the game out of reach.

Coming out of Westlake (TX) as a member of the Class of 2022, Klubnik was a five-star recruit, per the On3 Consensus. He was the No. 18 recruit nationally, the No. 4 recruit out of Texas and the No. 1 quarterback in the entire nation.