Why Clemson’s Dabo Swinney said Cade Klubnik is more DJ Uiagalelei than Trevor Lawrence as a freshman

CLEMSON – Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney wouldn’t describe his quarterback situation as anything close to 2018, when it was just a matter of time – not long, as it turned out – for an ultra-talented freshman to take over.

Swinney said Thursday he views freshman Cade Klubnik not as a young Trevor Lawrence but as a young D.J. Uiagalelei when he was a backup to Lawrence two years ago.

“I think it’s like D.J. and Trevor,” Swinney said. “That’s how I see it.”

Fourth-ranked Clemson opens its season Monday (8 p.m., ESPN) with an ACC game against Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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Lawrence was far superior to Kelly Bryant and jumped into what became a permanent spot during the third series of the third game of the season. Uiagalelei wasn’t going do that in 2020, but he did start two games when Lawrence was out with COVID and had record-breaking performances.

“When D.J. came in here, we wanted to give him as much opportunity as we could,” Swinney said. “In the flow of the games and the flow of the season, that’s what we did. He obviously had to end up starting a couple games. I see the same situation. D.J. is the starter. We’ll certainly give Cade as many opportunities as we can.”

Lawrence made 11 starts as a freshman and threw for 30 touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards in leading Clemson to the national championship. He set a program record by throwing 169 consecutive passes without an interception.

Uiagalelei two years later passed for 342 yards in his starting debut against Boston College and then set a Clemson freshman record by throwing for 439 yards at fourth-ranked Notre Dame. The Irish had never allowed that many in a game. Uiagalelei finished the season with the fifth-best passing efficiency rating by a freshman in ACC history. Last season, though, Uiagalelei’s efficiency rating was 15th in a 14-team league.

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Uiagalelei has a chance to strengthen his grip on the starting job in front of a national TV audience against Georgia Tech and then the following two games at home against lesser foes Furman and Louisiana Tech.

“Everybody wants to see him go out (Monday night) and throw for 300 (yards) and a couple of touchdowns, run for a couple,” running back Will Shipley said Thursday. “I want to see him succeed because if anybody deserves it, he does.”

“D.J. has great aspirations,” Swinney said. “He graduates in December (with eligibility remaining). It’s important to get Cade ready to roll.”

Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney: Cade Klubnik is more DJ Uiagalelei than Trevor Lawrence