Where Clemson football’s quarterback situation stands after win over Louisville
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney described Saturday’s game against Louisville as a “do or die” moment for embattled starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.
As in, if Uiagalelei struggled again, Swinney was going to turn to true freshman backup Cade Klubnik much earlier than he did in previous contests against Syracuse and Notre Dame?
“Absolutely,” Swinney said Saturday in his postgame press conference. “I mean, that’s pretty obvious.”
The hypothetical started and ended there because Uiagalelei, after back-to-back games reminiscent of his poor 2021 season, rebounded with what Swinney described as an “outstanding” effort in a 31-16 win against the Cardinals.
Uiagalelei completed 70% of his passes for 185 yards and a touchdown and a 140.1 passer rating; rushed for 32 yards and a second touchdown; and, save for a second quarter fumble Swinney also attributed to the offensive line, looked a lot more like the Uiagalelei from the first seven games of the 2022 season than the Uiagalelei from the last two.
“There was no way he was going to have an opportunity to go out there and stink, you know?” Swinney said, later adding: “We didn’t play great at Notre Dame. Nobody played great. We didn’t coach great either … but everybody’s got to take ownership. There’s no question he needed to play well today.”
Uiagalelei ended up quarterbacking 12 of 13 offensive possessions for Clemson (9-1, 7-0 ACC). Klubnik only played one possession, subbing in late in the fourth quarter with Clemson up 24-10 and trying to drain the clock against Louisville (6-4, 3-4 ACC).
After piling up three turnovers against Syracuse and generating little offense against Notre Dame, Uiagalelei simply had to play better. Swinney said it. Offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter said. Uiagalelei said it himself, both after Notre Dame and postgame Saturday.
A renewed sense of focus was evident from the game’s opening possession, when Uiagalelei stayed calm, stepped up in the pocket and delivered a 24-yard strike to receiver Joseph Ngata on a third and 15. It’s the type of play he just didn’t make against Syracuse. Or Notre Dame.
“We just wanted to get back on track to how we played offense,” Uiagalelei said. “I haven’t been playing to where I wanted to play at. The biggest thing for me was just going out there and playing my game, having some fun, having some joy and cutting loose.”
Uiagalelei also rushed four times on that opening drive, including for an 11-yard touchdown, after logging zero first-half carries against the Fighting Irish.
Clemson ended up scoring on three of six first-half possessions Saturday – far from a perfect outing, but more points (17) than the team had scored in the first halves against Syracuse and Notre Dame combined (10).
Outside of limiting turnovers to a second-quarter fumble on third and long, which Swinney also attributed to a pressure allowed by left tackle Jordan McFadden, Uiagalelei made various throws into tight windows and while under pressure throughout Saturday.
He completed 19 of 27 passes for his best completion percentage (70.4%) since an NC State win five games ago and recorded his best passer rating (140.1) and adjusted quarterback rating (63.1) since a Florida State win three games ago.
He was on point in the “Middle Eight,” too, leading Clemson on a 10-play, 80-yard drive to end the second quarter and an eight-play, 85-yard drive to start the third quarter. Those drives – the first of which ended in a five-yard touchdown pass from Uiagalelei receiver Antonio Williams – put Clemson up 17-7 and 24-7 against a feisty Cardinals squad.
“He did a great job of responding to the challenge,” Streeter said. “Just proud of him for that .. the kid’s resilient. The kid continues to respond whenever he’s in a tough spot.”
Swinney, speaking a much different tune than he did last week at Notre Dame, said he never considered bringing Klubnik, a former five-star recruit, in after Uiagalelei’s only turnover.
He was complimentary of the starter he’s stuck behind for the better part of two seasons now, comparing the last two weeks to a similar stretch in 2021, when Uiagalelei was briefly benched in a loss at Pittsburgh and rebounded to lead Clemson to six straight wins to end the year.
Swinney’s only major nitpick was that Uiagalelei didn’t hit the gas harder when he caught a throwback pass from Williams with nothing but blockers and open field ahead of him. Uiagalelei picked up six yards on the trick play before getting tackled.
“That was probably his worst play,” Swinney said.
Everything else? Good enough for Uiagalelei to hold onto his job.
“I just love how he competed,” Swinney said. “It’s good to see him get back on track, and hopefully that will really propel him to go have a great finish – because he’s had a really good year outside of two games.”
Injury report
Swinney gave updates on a number of Clemson players who missed Saturday’s game against Louisville with new injuries, including linebacker Trenton Simpson and right guard Walker Parks.
Swinney said Simpson (ankle) and Parks (concussion protocol) were both close to playing against Louisville, but Clemson ultimately held them out. He’s confident both players – who’ve been every-game starters for Clemson – can return next week against Miami. Reserve cornerback Fred Davis (ankle) also didn’t play.
Starting punt returner Will Taylor had surgery to repair a minor knee issue and will be out a few weeks, Swinney said. Running back Kobe Pace is close to returning from a high ankle sprain.
Swinney had originally said wide receiver Beaux Collins (shoulder) would return against Miami next week. On Saturday, he said it’s more likely Collins returns for the season finale against South Carolina.
This story was originally published November 12, 2022 at 10:20 PM.
