2024 Preview: Clemson's quarterbacks need to step back to step up.

Clemson's offense lacked efficiency in 2023, going three and out and turning the ball over way too many times. The quarterback position was a big reason why.

Clemson finds itself in an interesting spot. For over a decade, Clemson had been among the elite at the quarterback position. Jumping from Tajh Boyd to DeShaun Watson to Trevor Lawrence is just an unbelievable run of recruiting and development that perhaps only Alabama could match. 

But, like with every run of greatness in college football, it couldn't last forever. Whether it be a player underachieving, coaches not getting them a solid supporting cast or just bad luck, you're going to swing and miss eventually. DJ Uiagalelei was good, but not great. That's not a slight, it's just the reality of being compared to Lawrence and Watson. Now, in the blink of an eye, Cade Klubnik is a junior, and his chances to elevate himself among the best in Tiger history are getting fewer and fewer.

Cade Klubnik / Clemson Athletics

2024 Clemson QB Room: Cade Klubnik (Jr.), Christopher Vizzina (Rs. Fr.), Trent Pearman (Rs. So.), Colby Shaw (So.) (Note: Paul Tyson will be an assistant and emergency quarterback, similar to the role Zeb Noland filled for South Carolina.)

We've gone on and on about the need for Klubnik to be more efficient and it's not fair to blame the offense's struggles on him. With that said, he needs to be better with his decision-making in 2024. The first step is not putting the ball on the ground. The next is not going for the kill shot on every play. If there's one consistent knock on him it's that he refuses to take the easy play, whether that be checking it down or taking off himself. Klubnik holds the ball too long allowing the play to collapse before he goes to plan B, usually too late. 

You don't become an elite quarterback by throwing haymakers every play. You do it by becoming perfect at the easy stuff. No more incompletions on swing routes or muffing the QB/RB exchange on RPOs. Become a master of the easy stuff, keep the offense on time, and then you'll find the explosion downfield. Klubnik has all the physical tools to be great, it's the decision-making that's holding him back. Moving into the offseason, that has to be a priority for this Clemson staff.