What a difference a week makes.
In the season-opening loss to top-ranked Georgia, the Clemson offense managed just one explosive play in the passing game. A 36 yard catch by Antonio Williams in the first half that didn’t even lead to points.
One week later in the home-opener against App State, the story was a different one. The Tigers managed 17 big plays in the 66-20 route of the Mountaineers, with 10 of those (longer than 15 yards) coming from Cade Klubnik and the passing attack. A stark contrast from what has been seen from this offense going back multiple seasons.
While it was just one game and against a Sunbelt team, that doesn’t take away from the fact that what happened on Saturday night was noteworthy. Maybe Dabo Swinney was on to something when he kept talking about the importance of building momentum early.
Klubnik looked like a different quarterback, playing behind an offensive line that looks much improved across the first two games of the season. Klubnik had a clean pocket throughout, and was as poised as he has been to this point in his Clemson career.
Unlike a week ago, where the junior quarterback underthrew multiple balls, Klubnik was hitting his pass catchers in stride on Saturday night. He was making the right reads and getting the ball out on time, which is a positive sign moving forward. He was also spreading the ball around, completing passes to nine different players.
While only playing the first half, Klubnik finished 24-of-26 with 378 yards and five touchdown passes. One of those incompletions was thrown away intentionally. He also added two more scores on the ground. He finished with a school record 277.9 pass efficiency rating, shattering the old record (261.9) held by Tajh Boyd. He had a QBR of 99.6, with 100 being the highest possible.
Klubnik had completions of 76, 51, 21 and 49 yards in the first quarter alone and added four more big passing plays in the second quarter that went for 20, 33, 18 and 17 yards.
However, as great as Klubnik was, the biggest from improvement from week one to week two might have come from the wide receivers. Bryant Wesco made his first career start, replacing Adam Randall in the starting lineup, and made his presence felt almost immediately. The freshman reeled in a 76 yard scoring strike from Klubnik on the Tigers’ third play from scrimmage to get the scoring started. He finished with a game-high 130 receiving yards and averaged more than 40 yards per catch.
Jake Briningstool also had 100 yards and two touchdown catches, giving Clemson two pass catchers to hit the century mark in the same game. That is the first time that has happened since 2020, when Trevor Lawrence was still the quarterback.
The question now becomes can the Tigers carry this momentum through the bye week. Clemson opens up conference play against NC State at home on September 21. After the loss to Georgia, winning the ACC might be what it takes if this team is going to make it back to the College Football Playoff and the march to Charlotte begins against the Wolfpack.
A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
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