Dabo Swinney remains committed on Uiagalelei as Clemson’s starter

After freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik went 15-23 passing in Saturday’s spring game, Dabo Swinney reaffirmed that DJ Uiagalelei is still the team’s starter.

Clemson’s top two quarterbacks faced off against each other in Saturday’s spring game, and after the game, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reaffirmed that rising junior DJ Uiagalelei is the team’s starter.

As an Orange team member, Uiagalelei finished the spring game with 175 yards and one interception on 17-36 passing. He was also sacked five times for a combined loss of 38 yards in his team’s 7-15 loss to the White team.

“DJ [Uiagalelei] is definitely our starter,” Swinney said. “He’s had a great spring. He’s not done anything to not be the starter.”

Meanwhile, second-string mid-year enrollee Cade Klubnik had 106 passing yards and one touchdown on 15-23 passing. The five-star signal-caller also had Clemson’s longest run of the day after scrambling for 14 yards in the first quarter.

“Cade [Klubnik] is a really talented player,” Swinney said. “You got two guys that I think can win at a high level.”

Swinney added that with the lack of full contact for the quarterbacks, Klubnik must continue to adjust to opposing teams’ pass rushes as he was sacked five times on Saturday.

“He’s one of the most self-driven kids you’re ever going to be around,” Swinney said of Klubnik. “He just keeps getting better, and he’ll just keep learning.”

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