Dabo Swinney upset with criticism toward Cade Klubnik

Dabo Swinney has taken his filter and thrown it in the trash this week.

As he did when addressing Tyler from Spartanburg, he didn’t mince words when it came to the criticism sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik has been receiving throughout Clemson‘s 2023 slump. After all, he’s just a kid, according to the Tigers head coach.

“He’s had a bunch of good plays. He’s had a few tough plays along the way. He’s growing,” Swinney said on Tuesday. “… I think this kid is going to be amazing. It’s disappointing. Again, when we attack these kids, these people that sit behind these microphones — they get off by attacking people. And we’ve just made that acceptable in our world, it’s a sad, man. Just sad.

“We’ve made it acceptable and okay just to attack people. It’s sad. I mean, it really is. This kid works his butt off. He’s not perfect. He’s growing. I think he’s gonna be a superstar, I really do. He ain’t right now. But he’s a hell of a competitor. He gonna get better and better and better. I’ll go to battle with that dude any day of the week.

Klubnik, a former five-star recruit who arrived in 2023 surrounded by a ton of hype after taking over the starting role late in the season as a true freshman, has been above average at best for the Tigers this season.

Only twice this season has he surpassed the 300-yard threshold in a single game, once against Charleston Southern and the other in a double-overtime loss to Miami. Swinney is also asking a lot out of his young QB, as Klubnik averages nearly 37 passing attempts per game. Mistakes are bound to be made with that type of volume.

Still, Klubnik has been more than serviceable with 1,947 passing yards and 13 touchdown passes compared to five interceptions.

“Yeah, he’s got to do a lot better,” Swinney continued. “There are a couple of plays here and there that he needs to make. He’s a little bit more poised in the pocket. He’s got to let it slow down a little bit. But we all need to do things better. But he’s gonna be fine. He’s gonna be fine. Why don’t we get behind him and support he’s our freakin quarterback. He’s our quarterback.”

Clemson is a three-point underdog at home against No. 15 Notre Dame this weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon ET live on ABC.