During his radio show on Monday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney discussed whether the team had considered putting backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina in for some snaps during their tough 34-3 loss to Georgia. Swinney explained that the idea of substituting Vizzina never really came up, as the focus was on letting Cade Klubnik finish the game.
“Absolutely. That was a great experience for Cade and for everyone, and he really handled it well,” Swinney said. “I was proud of him.”
Klubnik, in his second year as the starting quarterback, ended the game completing 18 of 29 passes for 142 yards but also threw an interception. Reflecting on Klubnik’s performance, Swinney highlighted both the challenges and the learning moments.
“His worst play was the first play,” Swinney noted. “I mean, that’s going 20 to 30 yards, and we just missed it, and it’s unfortunate because those are the type of momentum things that create a lot in that type of game.” Swinney pointed out that Klubnik managed to settle in after the rocky start, but there were still some plays where he could have made better decisions, like taking a sack that led to a difficult second-and-long situation.
Swinney also mentioned a specific quarterback run where Klubnik’s eagerness worked against him. “He was too fast out in front of the puller because that’s going to walk in for a touchdown if he’s just a little more patient,” he explained.
Despite the loss, Swinney was pleased with Klubnik’s response, both during the game and afterward. “I was really pleased with Cade and just his psyche, and then his leadership after the game was tremendous. And how he showed up here today. I know we got one game and everybody just looks at the score or this and that. But this kid’s a competitor, and I really think he’s going to have a great year.”