Cade Klubnik Thankful Dabo Swinney Backed Him When 'People Wanted Me Out of Clemson'

As he enters his senior season at Clemson, starting quarterback Cade Klubnik reflected on head coach Dabo Swinney's decision to stick with him despite his early struggles.

Klubnik told the Associated Press that fans were clamoring for Swinney to find his replacement in the transfer portal after his lackluster sophomore year, in which he threw just 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

"Everybody kind of told me I sucked, and wasn't very good," Klubnik said. "A lot of people wanted me out of Clemson."

Rather than pursuing another signal-caller, Swinney directly told Klubnik, "I believe in you." The youngster responded with a stellar junior year, producing 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions while also adding 463 rushing yards and seven more scores. He helped lead the Tigers to the College Football Playoff, where they lost to Texas in the first round.

"To have somebody that I look up to and believe in, tell me that he believes in me, it just filled me with confidence," Klubnik said. "He could have gone and done what a lot of other coaches would do (and find a transfer quarterback), but he didn't."

Klubnik now enters his final collegiate season as a Heisman Trophy contender, and No. 4 Clemson could be in a position to compete for a national championship.

"He's got a lot of great days ahead," Swinney said of Klubnik. "And you need a little luck, you know. I know everybody wants to make all these predictions and things like that, but you predict your way in anything. You gotta go do it. I know this if if that guy stays healthy, we will have a chance. He's gonna always give you a chance."