5 things we learned in Clemson football’s dominant win over Georgia Tech
So, about that Clemson quarterback chatter.
It’s only heating up after DJ Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik’s respective performances in the Tigers’ 41-10 win over Georgia Tech on Monday night.
Incumbent junior starter Uiagalelei finished 19 of 32 for 209 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while adding another score on the ground in a 31-point win.
But nothing got Twitter buzzing like true freshman Klubnik’s mop-up duty in which he led Clemson’s backups on a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive that looked rather effortless.
Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III and former All-Pro NFL running back Chris Johnson were among those to chime in as Klubnik completed four of six passes for 50 yards on his sole drive and capped it off with a three-yard touchdown toss to Will Taylor.
Klubnik’s sole turn at helm, albeit under far different circumstances, stood in sharp contrast to earlier drives. Clemson’s offense under Uiagalelei at times felt stuck in the mud, especially in the first quarter, before stabilizing amid 27 unanswered points in the second half.
Uiagalelei is still Clemson’s starter, coach Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter confirmed postgame, but Klubnik’s national debut only adds further intrigue to the Tigers’ ongoing 2022 College Football Playoff push.
Here’s what else we learned from Clemson’s win.
Clemson’s defense is still elite
Any signs of a drop-off from one defensive coordinator to another were answered on the first play of Monday’s game. Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims dropped back, felt immediate pressure from defensive end KJ Henry and uncorked a deep ball that was intercepted by safety Andrew Mukuba.
Just like that, Wes Goodwin’s unit was on its way. Playing a regular-season game under someone other than Brent Venables for the first time since 2013, Clemson’s defense looked the part and then some.
The Tigers held the Yellow Jackets to 237 total yards, stuffed their run game (2.4 yards per carry) and allowed them to convert just 2 of 16 third downs. Clemson also got its usual backfield penetration with two sacks and nine tackles for loss and held a fifth straight opponent to under 100 rushing yards, its longest streak since 2010.
Standout individual performers included linebacker Barrett Carter (six tackles), Henry (six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble) and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks).
Antonio Williams is ready to contribute
Blake Miller got the start at right tackle, but it was another true freshman who turned heads for Clemson’s offense on Monday night: wide Antonio Williams.
Williams, the nation’s No. 61 recruit out of Irmo’s Dutch Fork High School, entered the opener as Clemson’s No. 2 slot man behind Brannon Spector but ended up being one of the team’s most productive wide receivers against Georgia Tech.
The explosive 6-foot playmaker and summer enrollee caught four passes for 37 yards and had consecutive grabs of seven and 14 yards on the third-quarter drive that put Clemson up 24-10. His four catches were the most by a Clemson true freshman in a season opener since Ray-Ray McCloud had eight against Wofford in 2015.
Special special teams
From the consistency of BT Potter and Aidan Swanson to the flashes Carson Donnelly and Wade Woodaz, Clemson pitched a near-perfect game on special teams.
The Tigers needed every bit of it, too.
Donnelly’s second-quarter blocked punt — Clemson’s first fully blocked punt since 2015 — provided a sputtering offense with an ideal scoring position. Indeed, running back Will Shipley punched in the game’s opening score on a fourth-and-goal a few plays later to put Clemson up 7-0.
True freshman Woodaz later blocked a punt in the fourth quarter, marking the first time Clemson had two in a game since receivers Nelson Faerber and La’Donte Harris did it against South Carolina in 2007. (Swinney was their position coach at the time.)
Fifth-year senior Potter nailed 29- and 31-yard field goals in the second half, as well as all four of his extra points. Swanson, a junior starting his first career game, averaged 42.7 yards per punt and landed three inside the 20-yard line.
Work to do on offense
Clemson’s 41-point output on Monday disguised some growing pains for an offense that, under first-year coordinator Brandon Streeter, remains a work in progress.
The unit was out of sync, especially early, from Uiagalelei bobbling two snaps from center Will Putnam to running backs getting stuffed to veteran receivers Joseph Ngata, Brannon Spector and EJ Williams making a minimal impact.
A few key drops and off-target throws also put a damper on a night where Clemson, Swinney noted, did at least finish 7-of-7 in scoring chances in the red zone.
“The good news is there will be a bunch we’ve got to correct to keep getting better, but it’s a good start, and we can build on it,” Swinney said. “Good teams get better. If we’re going to be a great team, that’s what we’ll have to do.”
This story was originally published September 6, 2022 at 8:00 AM.
