Clemson football: Tigers QB Cade Klubnik describes new OC Garrett Riley's 'electric' offense for 2023 season

Clemson football starting quarterback Cade Klubnik takes the reins entirely as the Tigers' starter for the 2023 season and does so with a new offensive coordinator in Garrett Riley. The Class of 2022's No. 1 quarterback as a five-star recruit from Austin (Texas) Westlake previewed what is to come.

“Just a lot of energy — it’s going to be electric,” Klubnik told ACC Network this week. “I think that’s going to be the best way to describe this offense. We have the best defense in the country and we get to go against them every single day. I believe we have the best coaching staff in the country and they prepare us. I’m just so excited for the next year. You look at the guys we are returning and I think we’re returning two of the best running backs in the country, great offensive linemen. You look at our receiving core, it’s going to be fun with coach Riley coming in, the confidence and energy he’s going to bring and also just the new style of play, it’s going to be fun and it’s going to be electric. It’s going to be fast tempo and we’re going to be able to score a lot of touchdowns.”

Riley, 33, left TCU for Clemson after the Tigers and head coach Dabo Swinney fired Brandon Streeter.

Klubnik — mostly as the backup to D.J. Uiagalelei, who since transferred to Oregon State — threw for 697 yards and two touchdowns to three interceptions as a freshman in 2022. He logged two starts last season, including the ACC Championship Game against UNC and Orange Bowl versus Tennessee.

“He's picking it up quickly,” Riley said of Klubnik this month. “We're all about simplicity and making it easy for that guy, No. 1. That's the whole thing: if it's easy for the quarterback, odds are you're going to reap the benefits of that eventually. He's grasped it well. A lot of things he did at the high school level and even last year, it's just probably doing a little bit more and a higher repetition of it.”

Klubnik sees improvement from himself.

"Accuracy and continuing to rally guys and really push them to where they haven't pushed themselves before," Klubnik said this month. "I feel like now I have that capability to really encourage guys to get going. We got some of the best athletes in the nation here, so just getting their minds right. Not saying that they don't, but we're not here to just have another year. We're here to win it all. That's the main goal here and if we don't do that then the accomplishment isn't made."