Cade Klubnik, Clemson WRs building chemistry ahead of Orange Bowl

CLEMSON — Nearly four weeks will have passed since the ACC championship game before Clemson and Tennessee face off in the Orange Bowl on Friday.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has used the 27 days between games to continue to build chemistry with his receivers.

For most of the season, Klubnik received limited reps with the first team during practices.

However, he has been taking all of the reps with the 1s during Orange Bowl prep now that DJ Uiagalelei is no longer on the Tigers roster.

Clemson obviously hasn’t practiced all 27 of those days, but there has still been ample time for Klubnik to work on his timing and cohesiveness with his wideouts.

“We have a lot of chemistry, including Cade and the freshman receivers,” Clemson leading receiver Antonio Williams said. “I think we are going to be really good in the future. We have made a lot of plays already and as we get older and adapt to this plan, I think we are going to do some really good things.”

Clemson has a solid young nucleus to build around with Klubnik, Williams, fellow freshman Cole Turner and several others set to return in 2023.

Turner has Clemson’s only 100-yard receiving game of the season, which came in the ACC championship against North Carolina.

In fact, Clemson returns most of its starting offense as receiver Adam Randall, running back Will Shipley, four offensive linemen and potentially receiver Joseph Ngata will be back.

The feeling around the Clemson offense seems much different now than it did for much of the year as the Tigers struggled.

It’s undeniable that the group played with a different sense of confidence and energy when Klubnik entered the game against UNC.

“I think I’m always full of energy. I’ve always been that way,” Klubnik said. “Especially with the game of football, I love playing it more than anything. Every time I get an opportunity to go out there I’m going to give it everything I have.”

After the Orange Bowl, Klubnik will have an entire offseason to lead the offense, work on timing with receivers and prepare for his first full season as a starter.

He already feels good about where the Clemson offense is and is headed, and a strong showing against the Vols would be a huge boost heading into the offseason and next year.

“It’s been a good two weeks of just developing more relationships and chemistry for our quarterbacks with the receivers and just the differences in that,” Clemson offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter said. “Cade’s done an awesome job. Cade has so much energy and leadership, maturity. He’s been very, very good these past two weeks.”