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Cade Klubnik reveals how Dabo Swinney got his confidence back when Clemson fans wanted QB change
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- Cade Klubnik reveals how Dabo Swinney got his confidence back when Clemson fans wanted QB change
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has experienced the highs and lows of college football.
He had an inconsistent 2023 in his first full season as a starter that contributed to the Tigers missing the College Football Playoff for the third straight year. He heard people say he "sucked" and wanted Clemson coach Dabo Swinney to get a new quarterback to lead the Tigers . Swinney stuck with Klubnik.
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"Coach Swinney pulled me into his office and told me, 'Cade, I believe in you, and let's go to work,'" Klubnik said July 24 at ACC Kickoff. "For somebody that I look up to and believe in tell me that he believes in me just filled me with confidence. When he could have gone and done what a lot of other coaches would do but didn't and pulled me in tight and said, 'I believe in you,' I'll never forget that moment."
Swinney's faith was rewarded with Klubnik blossoming in 2024, leading Clemson to an ACC championship win and a CFP appearance. He completed 308 passes (third-most in school history) and threw 36 touchdowns (second-most).
Now, Klubnik is projected first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and enters the season as a popular pick to be the best quarterback in the ACC , win the Heisman trophy and lead Clemson to a deep CFP run. Still, he can't shake the chatter he heard when he wasn't playing at his best.
"Why would I start listening to the good stuff when I wasn't listening to the bad stuff, and it's the same people telling me the exact same thing," Klubnik said. "... It doesn't have an effect on me. It can't."
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Klubnik is optimistic about Clemson's chances in 2025 because of the experience that is returning. According to ESPN's Bill Connelly , the Tigers return the most production than any other team in Division I (80%).
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Klubnik headlines the returning offensive players along with wide receivers Antonio Williams , Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore and four end-of-year offensive line starters. Defensively, star players, including edge rusher T.J. Parker, tackle Peter Woods , linebacker Sammy Brown and cornerback Avieon Terrell , are back.
During the past two seasons, Clemson has led the nation in true freshman snaps. Klubnik feels this is the first time in his career where there should be little inexperience among starters.
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"We've been a young team, I feel like, every year I've been here," Klubnik said. "We're a veteran team and very experienced, got a lot of guys that have played a lot of ball."
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: Cade Klubnik credits Dabo Swinney for confidence
