CLEMSON — When Clemson football had a 4-4 record in 2023, quarterback Cade Klubnik in his first year as a starter remembered not wanting to leave his house for weeks.
Having four losses entering November is unacceptable at Clemson after the lengthy success of coach Dabo Swinney 's program, which includes two national championships. Klubnik chose to have food ordered to his house so he didn't have to show his face publicly as fans called for him to get benched or enter the transfer portal after being the first quarterback since 2011 to have the Tigers with four losses.
Ironically, Klubnik leaned on the last Clemson quarterback who achieved this feat: Tigers assistant quarterbacks coach Tajh Boyd , who played at Clemson from 2010-13. He was Swinney's first prominent quarterback, helping the Tigers reach double-digit wins in 2011 for the first time in more than two decades, but he experienced struggles early in his career, too.
"The toughest part about this game is when you see yourself in those guys, when you've been through those same dynamics (and) when you've been under that same pressure," Boyd said. "You can't experience it for him. That's the challenge. You just have to be there with them."
Clemson turned its woes around, winning five consecutive games to close the season but missing the College Football Playoff for the third straight season and the ACC title game.
Still, the Tigers earned a huge victory in the Gator Bowl against Kentucky when Klubnik led a 12-play, 68-yard game-winning touchdown drive. That final possession and an honest conversation with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney helped boost Klubnik's confidence for 2024.
Boyd has been there every step of the way since Klubnik came to the Tigers in 2022, joining Clemson's staff in an offensive player development role in 2021. Boyd was also one of the first people to greet Klubnik after the Gator Bowl and said this matchup helped him learn how to win tough games.
"Tajh, I would say probably (the) top three (I'm) closest with in this facility and probably in my life right now, just in terms of the way he's been there for me through it all," Klubnik said. "He's lived it. He's lived it here. He's been in this room. He sat where I sat, and to have that perspective is just different."
Clemson's offense resurged last season to help the Tigers reach 10 wins, win the ACC and return to the College Football Playoff. The Tigers averaged 34.7 points, 18th in FBS, and 451.9 yards, 11th. It marked the first time they ranked in the top 25 in both categories since 2020.
Clemson averaged 29.8 points and 402.7 yards, 52nd in both categories, in 2023.
Klubnik's play was critical to the offensive renaissance. He threw for 3,639 yards (10th in the nation) with 36 touchdowns (third) and six interceptions and rushed for 463 yards. He showed growth by using his legs to run and avoid sacks, hitting on explosive passing plays and coming through in clutch situations, including in games against Virginia Tech , Pitt and SMU.
"To finish the way we did (in the Gator Bowl), definitely, catapulted us with momentum and confidence and just, kind of, lit a fire in us," Klubnik said. "Carried through last year, and I think really continued to carry through us to now."
Now, Klubnik enters the 2025 as a Heisman contender and a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The protégé is also in position to surpass the mentor's school records, including completion percentage, completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns with a lengthy and healthy season.
The Tigers are a popular pick to win the ACC again and vie for a national championship because of the talent and experience they are returning led by Klubnik, who Boyd considers one of the best competitors he's ever been around.
No. 6 Clemson's first test is Aug. 30 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) against No. 9 LSU at Memorial Stadium.
Yet, Klubnik can't shake the torment he endured in 2023, then seeing it morph into love the following year. He said he is thankful for the disrespect as it helped him grow but refuses to embrace the preseason adoration . Boyd is confident the best will come in Klubnik's final season.
"It would be different if he didn't have the trials that he's had, (and) he hasn't been under fire," Boyd said. "He's made it out of it, but he doesn't forget the feeling of what it feels when you're under the gun. The pressure that he feels, he applies it."
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: Cade Klubnik: Clemson football QB credits Tajh Boyd for turnaround
