Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts on Cade Klubnik’s performance in the Tigers’ first spring scrimmage. He called it “pretty average”—a far cry from the standout play expected from QB1.
Klubnik was physically on the field Wednesday, but according to Swinney, his mind? Already on vacation. The head coach wasn’t shy about calling out his starting quarterback’s sloppy performance. He expected focus and command, not someone whose mind was already on spring break. “I did not think Cade had a good day today,” Swinney said bluntly. “I thought he was very average. I think he was checked out.” But checked out where? Well, let’s just say over 1600 miles away from Clemson.
On March 16, Cade Klubnik gave fans a glimpse of his escape via Instagram—a much-needed reset. His location? Cabo San Lucas. And the view? Absolutely breathtaking. The hotel’s infinity pool blended seamlessly into the deep blue ocean, while towering rock formations painted the perfect backdrop. If there was ever a place to clear your mind, this was it. The man with a $3.3M NIL valuation was living the good life. But back at Clemson, the heat was on.
Klubnik has built a rock-solid resume over the past three seasons, boasting a 63.4% completion rate, 7,180 passing yards, and 57 touchdowns. Add in two ACC Title Game MVPs, and expectations only rise. But one rough scrimmage was enough to put him under Swinney’s microscope. So, what went wrong? Maybe Klubnik wasn’t expecting many reps. Maybe he just wasn’t in the zone. Either way, Swinney wasn’t thrilled. “I think he was already in Cabo or something,” Swinney said after practice. “I don’t think he was ready to go today, and maybe it is because he did think he was going to get a lot of reps. So, I did not think he had his best day. He was not very focused.”
But this scrimmage wasn’t just about Klubnik—it was about evaluating his backup under pressure, too. Swinney needed clarity at QB2, but instead, he got a QB1 who wasn’t locked in.
Cade Klubnik’s slip opens door for Vizzina at Clemson
While Klubnik struggled, his backup, Christopher Vizzina, stepped up, running with the first-team offense and leading an early scoring drive. As Swinney noted, “CV did some good stuff. He took his first drive down and scored.” With Klubnik’s consistency in question, Vizzina has a real opportunity to close the gap, and Swinney, known for not handing out starting jobs, has left the door wide open. Right now, Vizzina is making his case, one snap at a time. Entering his third season, he seized his moment just as Klubnik looked to take control. When Swinney handed him the reins in the scrimmage, he didn’t disappoint.
It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was enough to give Swinney something to think about. So far, Vizzina has flashed his potential, tossing for 190 yards and adding a rushing score. But when the real pressure hits, Clemson won’t just need him to step up—they’ll need him to shine.
For now, Cade Klubnik is still Clemson’s starter, and his growth is crucial for the Tigers’ 2025 season. But if Swinney’s comments are any indication, the leash might not be as long as expected. This Cabo reset might be exactly what Klubnik needs—a fresh mindset, a clear focus. Because when he gets back, all eyes will be on him. Meanwhile, Vizzina is quietly making his case to be Clemson’s future.
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