Dabo Swinney details importance of getting Cade Klubnik game experience

No. 5 Clemson has cruised right along this season, though it’ll certainly be put to the test this weekend when it travels to No. 21 Wake Forest for an important conference matchup. But the relatively favorable early season schedule has allowed coach Dabo Swinney quite a luxury: getting backup quarterback Cade Klubnik game experience.

Invaluable game experience, at that, even if not quite what you’d expect as the full-time starter.

Klubnik continued to play for the Tigers in relief of starter DJ Uiagalelei on Saturday in a 48-20 win over Louisiana Tech, going 2-of-5 passing for 19 yards and rushing twice for seven yards.

Even if the numbers don’t jump out, Klubnik is providing Swinney with game tape to work with.

“We got Cade in there, it was third quarter still, right? Right at the end of the third quarter,” Swinney said. “And we really wanted to let him play, because he just needs to play, because it’s different than practice, especially with him getting hit. He can get hit.

“He made a bad decision on like, I don’t know, it was a second-and-something. He pulled it and he’s got three guys out there, it’s like a party. Party at the ball. It happens fast in the game. And he’s done that his whole life, and he’s been great in practice, but it’s just great experience for him. It’s really, really good experience. So the more we can do with that is great.”

Cade Klubnik game experience vital for young QB

While the Tigers have won each of their first three games by at least two touchdowns, it’s unlikely that will continue the rest of the way. Meanwhile, though he’s played better the last couple weeks, it’s still unclear how much Clemson will be able to rely on Uiagalelei against the elite opponents on the schedule.

This week against Wake Forest can begin to answer that question to some degree.

But there’s also the reality that a starting quarterback can suffer injury at any time. You need to have a backup ready.

Klubnik clearly has all the tools to be an excellent college quarterback. He’s just not quite there yet. In three games he’s gone 7-of-15 passing for 66 yards and a touchdown, without an interception. He’s added five carries for nine yards.

And that’s OK. Swinney and the Tigers plan to keep ramping up his development, slowly unlocking the full potential of those natural skills as he gets more comfortable out there.

“He can run. I mean y’all obviously see his speed,” Swinney said. “He got around that corner there. He can really, really run. And as he continues to physically develop — he can throw it, too — he’ll be the total package when it’s all said and done.

“Again, so we’ve got a chance to get him in all three games, so that’s a positive. We’ve just got to keep building, keep bringing him along and make sure he’s ready to roll because he’s got to be ready to go win the game for us.”