Dabo Swinney and the Tigers escaped an upset Saturday as No.5 Clemson took down former No.14 Syracuse 27-21 in Death Valley behind a comeback performance led by true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik.
After starting the season red hot, starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei took a step back against the Orange, struggling to get anything going for the offense. With the group struggling through two-quarters of football, Swinney opted to change things up, putting Klubnik under center in the third quarter, looking for a spark.
Though Klubnik didn’t stuff the stat sheet, the spark was there as the Tigers eclipsed a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win and remain undefeated. The Tigers’ playoff hopes remained alive while we got a good look at Clemson’s possible future at quarterback in Klubnik.
While he wasn’t a world-beater in his time under center, Klubnik got the job done, earning national recognition along the way. The freshman quarterback is such a big story that he headlined David Cobb of CBS Sports’ College Football Star Power Index this week.
Here is what Cobb had to say about Klubnik:
Cade Klubnik, Clemson quarterback
Is it possible for a 2-of-4 passing performance to register more emphatically than Klubnik’s did against Syracuse? The freshman entered in relief of DJ Uigalelei during the third quarter of Clemson’s 27-21 win and quarterbacked the Tigers back from a 21-10 deficit. He didn’t do much, totaling just 19 yards passing and 15 yards rushing, but the fact that Clemson’s struggling offense suddenly stopped turning the ball over and began scoring when he entered is fascinating. Still, coach Dabo Swinney insists there is no quarterback controversy and Uiagalelei remains the No. 1 option ahead of the former five-star prospect Klubnik.
Can the Tigers win a national title with Uiagalelei, though? He’s improved since last season, but his lackluster showing against Syracuse underscored the many lingering imperfections. Swinney turned to him in a moment of need and the team responded well, so Klubnik is officially in the picture now even if he’s not the starter. It’s going to be difficult for Swinney to put that toothpaste back in the tube. If Uiagalelei struggles on the road against a solid Notre Dame defense next week, Klubnik may find himself with far more than four pass attempts against the Fighting Irish. It was a limited sample size, sure, but with playmaking abilities like this, perhaps Klubnik should be getting regular playing time regardless of Uiagalaelei’s performance.
DJ Uiagalelei is still Clemson’s starting quarterback, as Swinney has been adamant that he is their guy. Even with Uiagalelei remaining the starter, Klubnik’s flashes of greatness are an excellent sign for Clemson fans.
Cade Klubnik has a bright future under center for the Tigers.
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