Clemson Football: Klubnik can be CFP quarterback for Tigers

Clemson Football ended their 2022 season with a thud in the Orange Bowl. Despite moving the ball and controlling the time of possession, the Tigers just couldn’t capitalize on opportunities.

It was Cade Klubnik’s first start of his Clemson career. His successful performance in the ACC Championship game had Tiger fans (myself included) excited for the Orange Bowl. The results of the game have reminded us that Klubnik is inexperienced and still a work in progress.

The potential is there, however. It seems clear Klubnik has the intangibles: leadership qualities, desire to win, and disgust for losing. He put in the work during the spring and summer, adding good weight to make his frame more durable. I think we can expect that to continue in 2023. If he is going to hold up for an entire college football schedule, he will need to be physically resilient.

I watched the CFP semifinal in the Fiesta Bowl this past weekend, I saw Max Duggan lead TCU to an unexpected victory over Michigan. I’ve been impressed with Duggan all season. Who doesn’t love an underdog story?

As I saw Duggan lead the Frog offense, it occurred to me that Duggan and Klubnik aren’t all that different in their playing style. Neither are pocket passers, but both can throw the ball. Neither are run-first quarterbacks, but they are both mobile and aren’t hesitant to move while finding an open receiver or scramble if no one is open.

Physically, they are in the same ballpark. Klubnik is listed at 6’-2” and 195 pounds on Clemson’s website. Duggan is listed at 6’-2” and 210 pounds on TCU’s website, but 247Sports had him as 190 pounds coming out of high school in Iowa. I think 205-210 pounds is achievable for Klubnik and likely will be a target for him by the start of the 2023 season.

Duggan is far ahead of Klubnik in his development. He is a senior who started 29 games before this season began. Klubnik has just the Orange Bowl start under his belt, but what I see in Duggan now is what I think Klubnik can develop into with time.

Cade Klubnik can develop for Clemson Football the same way Max Duggan has for TCU

Will that happen in 2023? I’m unsure. I think we will see improvement from Klubnik next season. A full offseason of first-team reps will benefit him greatly, but as I said earlier, Duggan took four years to get to where he is now. Overnight successes aren’t as common as some of us believe.

This comparison would also be incomplete if I didn’t note that Duggan’s ascendance on the national stage coincided with Sonny Dykes bringing his offense to Fort Worth. Duggan played for Gary Patterson in his first three seasons with TCU. Klubnik’s success will be dependent on Clemson’s offensive staff giving him the tools he needs to work with.

Whether Klubnik takes a big jump in Year 2 or needs another season under his belt before he is ready for prime time, I can see him eventually leading the Tigers into the CFP in a similar way that Duggan is now leading TCU.