Cade Klubnik didn’t start great in 2023 but he did improve enough to lead the Tigers to a five-game winning streak to end the season, including a game-winning final drive against Kentucky in the Gator Bowl.
Many fans hoped to see that momentum continue into spring practice. The coaches have stated that Klubnik played well in spring practice, but we didn’t see that in the Spring Game.
What we did see that day was walk-on redshirt sophomore Trent Pearman play the best game behind center. He did a good job protecting the ball, managed to get yards and a touchdown on the ground (which is hard considering the defenders only need to get a hand on the quarterbacks in a Spring Game), and had a wonderful touchdown pass to early enrollee Bryant Wesco.
Klubnik’s struggles in the spring game coupled with Pearman’s performance had some people calling for a quarterback battle this fall. They are going to get one, it just won’t be exactly what they had in mind.
Clemson OC Garrett Riley says the team’s No. 2 QB spot will be up for grabs entering fall camp. Christopher Vizzina and Trent Pearman (who dazzled in spring game) will “battle it out” to back up starter Cade Klubnik, he says pic.twitter.com/lIyzROX9rA
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) July 16, 2024
This tracks with the mentality that the Clemson staff has had with quarterbacks under Dabo Swinney.
When Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence came to Clemson, they showed the staff what they had in the spring and in fall practice, but that didn’t earn them a starting position when the season started. It earned them a look.
DW and T-Law were superstars. The look they got was an opportunity to play in the regular season and not just in garbage time. They usually were inserted in the games on the 3rd or 4th drive of the game. It didn’t matter who the opponent was.
Both DJ Uiagalelei and Klubnik earned a look, but it was a different kind of look. They didn’t automatically get drives in every game. They got drives when the team had a substantial lead or when the opponent wasn’t the best on their schedule.
Pearman took longer to get that look. He wasn’t a 5-star or 4-star prospect. He walked on at Clemson. At every opportunity, he had to earn the next look. He earned time in the 2023 Spring Game. He earned a bigger role in the 2024 Spring Game. At that game, he earned the chance to take the next step this fall: backing up Klubnik.
The staff will still make him earn it. For now, Vizzina still has the 2nd spot on the depth chart and Pearman has the 3rd.
Dabo Swinney says Christopher Vizzina is the second-string quarterback to start fall camp. Trent Pearman is third on the depth chart. https://t.co/snFNJaUvEW
— TigerNet.com (@ClemsonTigerNet) July 16, 2024
Vizzina improved this spring but still doesn’t look ready to step in if Klubnik were to be injured.
The staff believes in Klubnik and continues to support him.
Dabo Swinney on QB Cade Klubnik: "He was a first-year starter (in 2023) -- we're so quick to crucify people, if you will, if they're not some Johnny All-American." Reiterates, as he often has, that Klubnik's "made of the right stuff" and he expects him to take another step
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) July 16, 2024
Even Swinney says that needs to translate to games. I'll add another: it needs to translate to games consistently.
Right now, the fans probably feel more confident in Pearman to step in if Klubnik were to be injured or ineffective. Fall camp will be Pearman’s chance to prove it to Swinney and the staff.