Clemson Football: Legitimate Quarterback Competition?

One of the obvious story lines of the spring for Clemson Football is Cade Klubnik’s arrival in Clemson and participation in spring drills that will culminate with the spring game on April 9th.

The reports from Clemson have been glowing on Klubnik and mostly positive on D.J. Uiagalelei, too.

But, is there really a quarterback battle going on?  Or is it something to fill cyberspace until August camp opens?

I realize a significant portion of the Clemson fan base believes there should be a change from day one, but how realistic is that and how out of character would that be for this coaching staff?

Also, while there’s a “new” offensive coordinator he’s the “old” quarterbacks coach, you know, the one who coached the guy who everybody wants to replace.

Many are pointing to the 2018 season, when Trevor Lawrence took over for Kelly Bryant 4 games into the season and led the Tigers to the National Championship.

Could that happen this year? Absolutely, but looking at the schedule, I don’t see an obvious week, especially given that Clemson plays three games in twelve days to start the season.

The fourth game is at Wake Forest and the fifth against a theoretically stout North Carolina State squad, followed by road trips to Chestnut Hill and Tallahassee.

Sitting here in early April, it kind of looks like game eight, October 22 vs. Syracuse in Clemson would be the spot, but even that team has given the Tigers fits from time to time.

We’ll know long before then, though.

I’m of the mind that no matter the schedule the Clemson offense can’t have another season like the one that occured in 2021.

Another fiasco on offense will damage the Tigers brand and hurt their status as one of the nation’s elite programs.  The talking heads will talk in a negative way about Clemson and wonder why anyone considers the Tigers among the elite.

College football is a fickle business and unless you’re in the SEC, memories fade quickly and 2018 is getting further and further in the rear view mirror.

I don’t think there’s really a battle going on at quarterback this spring, but come fall the trigger will be short  and no matter what the schedule says, changes will be made if the offense looks like it did in 2021.