The 2023 college football season is a massive one for the Clemson football program, and much of their success will fall on the shoulders of sophomore starting quarterback Cade Klubnik.
We got our first taste of Klubnik under center at the end of the 2022 season and saw mixed results from the young quarterback. While he was excellent in the 2022 ACC Championship game, winning MVP honors, Klubnik struggled in the Tigers’ Orange Bowl loss.
Now a sophomore, expectations are high for Klubnik as the expectation is that he takes the next step and helps Clemson compete for a College Football Playoff appearance. Klubnik’s teammates have taken notice of his transformation during the offseason, with wide receiver Beaux Collins touching on the work Klubnik has done and the relationship the duo has built.
“It’s been second to none really, we’ve worked out a lot this summer and off hours, we’ve been here 7:45 p.m. and just putting in work,” Collins said. “He’s taken the next step for sure for this team. He wants it bad, not just for himself, he wants it for all of us so it’s just I have no choice but to tip my hat to him. He’s a hard worker, I love hard workers. He’s a go-getter so we’re meshing pretty well.”
Players on the offensive side of the ball aren’t the only ones who have seen Klubnik’s transformation. Clemson veteran Xavier Thomas had nothing but great things to say about the Tigers’ starting quarterback.
“He’s been working his tail off, putting in a lot of extra work coming in here on his own. Things like that over the summer, just seeing him go out there just doing a lot of the simple smaller things in regards to details,” Thomas said. “You can tell he’s way more composed in regards to practice…he’s been a very vocal leader and he put on a lot of muscle this spring, this offseason so he’s not a twig anymore.”
Klubnik’s teammates think highly of him, and his hard work has proven that he is willing to do what it takes for the team. The 2023 season could be one to remember for Klubnik and the Tigers.
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