Cade Klubnik is key to Clemson football being elite again

Clemson football has fallen off in recent years and a national title revival could be led by former five-star QB Cade Klubnik. 

Not long ago, Clemson football was viewed as the elite of the elite in college football. But since the departure of Trevor Lawrence, the Tigers just haven’t been the same.

They have still been pretty damn good compared to the standards of most of college football. The Tigers won the ACC championship last season and despite losing to Tennessee in the Orange Bowl, most teams wish they were Clemson football.

Yet, you have to wonder if the Tigers can get back to where they were a few years ago. Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson delivered two national titles in three seasons. At the very least, Clemson football used to be automatic in the playoff sort of like Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State.

It’s been two years in a row now that the Tigers have failed to make it. That opened the door for Cincinnati and in 2022, two Big Ten teams made the playoff for the first time.

Cade Klubnik is the key for Clemson

You wonder if Clemson football can back to winning national championships or if that part of the Dabo Swinney era is over. The next two years will be critical and a big reason for that is former five-star quarterback Cade Klubnik is set to take over for the 2023 season.

Klubnik played extensively in the ACC title game and the No. 1 overall QB in the 2022 class started in the Orange Bowl. Clemson lost that game but Klubnik got great experience and finished the season with 100 pass attempts.

Klubnik completed 61 percent of his passes. He only threw two touchdown passes compared to three interceptions but he’s got the look of a future first-round pick.

Clemson has continued to recruit the quarterback position well and with Garrett Riley coming to run the Tigers’ offense from TCU, Klubnik is poised for a breakout season and was recently mentioned by 247 sports’ Chris Hummer as a player set to emerge in 2023. 

Riley did wonders for Max Duggan last season and the opportunity to work with Klubnik had to be a drawing point for Riley, who is the brother of Lincoln Riley.

Clemson’s offense needed a reset. Things had gotten stagnant and the team needed a dynamic play-caller, as well as an elite quarterback. The Tigers now have those things and if Riley can get Klubnik to reach his vast potential, Clemson could easily be back in the national title mix in 2023.