Clemson QB Cade Klubnik discuss fall camp and more

what's the biggest difference with this offense so far through Camp um you know I think we've just had a really good mindset more than anything um I think that you know first of all we're we were we were a really young team last year um and you know it's a team that's just a lot smarter uh in an offense is you know for me personally just having a year under my belt um you know just a smarter football team um guys that you know have got a little bit more experience kind of all over um you know when it comes to receivers offensive line quarterback running back just a lot of guys that have played a lot of Bowl now um and a lot of just returning starters so I say that's one of the biggest things is just you know getting to come back in the same offense again um is huge you know not having to have your your first fall camp in a new offense and kind of getting to um run things you've already been running it's just you know it's it's huge um so I think that's been that's been huge for us are you able to look back now and sort of appreciate that learning curve for not just you but everybody and your one of an offense yeah absolutely you know I'm just looking back and you know some of the you know not even like it's not about you know throwing a 50 yard you know vertical route it's just you know little things about that I just feel like making plays that I wouldn't have made last year um just smarter plays um that I've just I've just learned how to manage the game better um just getting to you know play and um I've kind of seen that I feel like the the coaches have seen that through me and um but I think that's just kind of all over we're just doing things that you know we wouldn't have done last year and we're doing now or we would have done last year we're not doing now so you know just just a team that you know is more experienced more than anything offensively talking some of your team they were saying you were having over the offseason like weekly maybe even twice a week meetings that just player L like how did that come about kind of what was the idea behind that yeah I mean just more than anything we just want to be the smartest team on the field um and that was kind of something that you know me and Paul Tyson had talked about and Coach Ry talked about just you know ways to uh you know kind of take a step that's you know that might not be something that the coaches are setting up but they can definitely encourage and help us with um in a legal way and you know just kind of using coach Raleigh obviously it was all player Le and something that you know I kind of initiated and um some of the other uh leaders on the team on the offense had initiated but just little things I mean nothing crazy but just kind of meeting up here and there um throughout the week just you know watching kind of last year stuff and kind of staying in the offense so that whenever we hit fall Camp it wasn't like we're doing a full install and learn the offense all over again it's just something that we had been doing I think think you were like even telling receivers like I want you in this specific spot you know maybe is that just having an understanding of the offense and like being also feeling like you're a leader now and you can tell people like this exactly what I want yeah absolutely and just being in the offense more you know I know I know where the guys kind of need to be for it to be you know perfect in whatever coverage they're doing so you know just finding ways to to make sure they're in the right alignments and stuff like that so I think that that's definitely something that was that was big for us this offseason uh Tyler ven's kind of that your leadership has grown over the off season on off field and on the field he called you executioner on the field I guess how do you how did that how do you approach that mentality and why did why did you kind of how did you kind of like get it going yeah uh you know that's you know obviously a pretty big comp compliment come from Tyler um just kind of him being a leader in this program and um you know just him for him to say that about me is is honestly huge just because you know somebody that I look up to a lot and the leader that he is on the defense a guy that's probably one of the smartest people on the field um just knows ball better than anyone so you know definitely thanks to him for that but you know I think just the mentality of looking back at last season and seeing what I can do better and uh you know I think that I've always been a natural leader and I feel like I'm finally getting to fully step into that role this past season or this past off season so and um Tyler also mentioned like he you guys kind of like Shar things like things you seen from each each other's perspectives like a tip or share like kind of gave up a coverage things like that how have those conversations been with the defense and vice versa yeah it's been great great I mean obviously I don't want to you know in practice when we're going against each other I don't want to you know help them out but but I do you know cuz we're on the same team so you know telling him you know if I'm s if I'm seeing him you know tip off a coverage or something like that I want to tell him that that way when it comes to game day you know he's not tipping off the other team's quarterback in in certain ways so just to help him out in any c in certain ways and um at the end of the day we're just trying to make each other better um and I think that's what's you know that's been the best thing about this this fall camp in the in the summer and the spring is just you know our defense is making our offense better every single day the dynamic is like now having Taj boy and John gr who are off the field staffers now can coach like what does that actually add for the quarterbacks yeah um you know say we're doing like a team on team period or something like that and you know coach Riley's obviously offense coordinator so he's going to be calling the the plays for the next uh you know the next group of guys going in so well he might be preoccupied you know I'll be able to just kind of stand behind the qu back get the Reps and stand next to Taj and we can just talk through right so it's like I'm getting a whole another rep every single time that CV or Trent um are out there so that's been huge for me whereas before I couldn't talk to Taj you know Taj kind of would have to just kind of shun me away at times just because he couldn't talk um so just to kind of have a resource like that him and Coach gross um to just you know immediately come back to the sideline and say hey what you see here did I make a right decision did I trust my eyes you know did I have the check down stuff like that um it's just kind of immediate feedback back but also something to someone to talk to as I'm watching CV all right hey just talking it through getting a true mental rep is Big so talking to Colin Sadler he said it was important for every player to have a why going to the season he mentioned his late grandfather is there maybe a why for you heading into this season um that's a good question you I just I want to go be the best I can be and be the best leader for this team that's my why right now coach said um for you guys first scrim CH he said you had outstanding day I guess what was working for you that day how did you feel I guess during that scrimmage you know obviously uh honestly it was fun to get back in Death Valley uh you know it was the first time back in there so you know it was definitely fun to get back in the valley and um just kind of Envision it and um but I think uh you know I think it was a good day for the offense I think we did a a good job up front of executing and you know Phil kind of starts off with some big runs off the bat and um you know great job with you know Adam Randall had a great day making some big time plays and um you know I think the best part is just spreading the ball around you know it wasn't like one or two guys were making you know 10 or 12 catches each it was kind of spreading the ball around and being efficient with the football and um you know everybody just kind of did their job and we just kind of put Drives together you Adam Rand mentioned last week you guys he stayed out to practice a little later to uh get more catches in with you I guess how Cru are those those extra reps after practice with Rand and other receivers trying to get that Rapport going yeah I mean it's huge something we've been working on all summer and you know something especially something like fall camp in the end of summer is you you know the routes that you can hit you know 100 out of 100 you don't really need to get you know five more of those after practice you know you can hit that every single day especially with guys like Adam Antonio that came in with me where we've got great chemistry but you know working on the routes that you know we might only throw one every three or four games but um that one opportunity that we do get to throw it let's make sure we get it right so just you know creating that uh comfortability whenever we do get in that spot hey I've made this throw before let's go do it you know what I mean so that's just stuff that we'd be kind of working on I think khil and on maybe last week said uh man coach Riley's going really deep into his his Playbook unlike last year and coach snny said they don't know what they're talking about it's the same play in your eyes can expand on that is it just a matter of you guys are playing better and and executing better in the plays might they're just working because of that or yeah I mean you know you can't ever trust a DB with what they're going to say so you know I think that you know we're just going to work every single day and um you know sorry Shelton and KB you know I mean we're doing good I mean no I'm just kidding but um I mean it's it's you know I mean coach R is kind of right they don't exactly know what we're doing every single day so um or sorry coach Sween is right you know they don't really know what we're doing and and stuff like that they're going out there the same as we are not knowing what the the defense or the offense is going to do we're just going to we're not scheming against each other you know so we're never going to scheme against our own defense and what they're going to be running against us we're just going to run our stuff and um what happens happens so obviously when we get to a game then we're scheme against that defense so how much do you think your comfort in year two is going to translate to comfort as a runner not just on the Zone re but also just using your legs to climb the pocket and and freelance and things like that yeah I think I think just you know having that experience under my belt and you know knowing when to get out and truly having a a college football play clock uh in terms of you know when when the ball needs to get out of my hands or when I need to take off is is something that I feel like I've developed and gotten better at so and you know when scrambles happening and not forcing stuff downfield maybe just taking it off and getting you know three or four eight or 10 yards so sweee mentioned on Saturday just how much deeper this receiving room has gone especially with the addition of Wesco and TJ Moore just how has this receiving room improved and what have you seen from The Freshman yeah uh you know just super proud of them I think that uh I think they're they're they're one group I think that's how they view each other um you know whether you've got you know two freshman all-americans like Tyler Brown Antonio Williams um um I mean there just there's there's nobody in that room with an ego or thinks that they're better than anyone else um and I think that's kind of how the old offense is there's nobody that thinks that they're above anybody else was just huge that's how you need to be efficient as an offense um so to be able to do that and everybody just work together like they're just trying to go be the best that they can be um and I'm really proud of those guys just the humble work that they've been doing um you know just really proud of them has there been any difference this year in how the protections are called I mean I think I recall last year cor if I'm wrong the center called the protections or is that or um kind of I mean not you know I'm not really probably gonna answer that one sorry yeah when you look at the back of quarterbacks what have you seen in practice that makes you think they've taken a step forward yeah yeah I mean I think that uh like any other college quarterback I think anybody's going to make a huge step in their year to um and you know for CV he's just you know he's learned the game even more and uh just being more efficient with his legs and you know making better decisions and making great decisions when it comes to you know just pre- snap decisions um and just you know finding the guys that he really needs to get to and then you know Tren Trin been doing a great job in terms of just being an incredible leader um but then just going out there when he gets out there and being a baller um you know he's just when that ball's in his hands he's going to make plays and um you know really proud of him I think that you know we're a really tight group overall probably one of the tightest groups in the in a QB sense um that I've felt so just really proud of him with the center battle with um Brian uh Tren Harris um I guess when they when they put a new center in and take one out how's that is that kind of a difficult switch for you how's it adjusting to each different Center uh yeah um honestly it doesn't really affect me too much uh just because um you know it's it doesn't affect me too much you know at the end of the day it's it's probably going to affect those front five more than me um but you know just trusting I mean I trust all three of them to go in there and play football game um and they all have done that you know so you know I think that whoever gets in there I'm excited for them and um you know it doesn't affect me really up being somebody that you live with um I think he was telling us that he printed up like wide receiver - shirts and says prove it on it I think coach chrishan was talking about how he stepped up his leadership as well like how how different is he just in terms of his confidence level and kind of where he is mentally and physically going into this year do you think yeah I think I think he's just playing Super free I think that's the best way to say it man he's just he's playing so free with a with a nothing to lose kind of mindset um and just every time he steps on the field I think just the love for the game that he has is it uh inspires me and we're just we're walking on the field today and he's just yelling man I love football we get to play football today man I love football like just by himself he's just telling himself that he's not talking to me he's not talking to anybody um but just the way that he gets I mean when you have to sit out and you're hurt um I mean go ask Walker Parks the same question next time y'all get to see him and go ask and ask him how thankful he is to be able to play football again he didn't know if he was ever going to play again you know and just guys like that whenever you face a big time injury um it makes you grateful for every time you come back and it might take a little bit you know I mean he was a little bit slow coming back cuz you know it's it's a big time inergy and you might be a little slow coming back like he was last year um not that he was slow coming back but just in a sense that you know you got hurt you don't want to get hurt again but he's just playing free he's just playing Super free and just the the the way he's playing he's he's playing really smart but just the leader he is and the way he leads those guys um in a relatively young room it's it's really he does it really well you think maybe the presence of freshman receivers is lit a fire under not just Adam but the other returning receivers as well um you know I think that I I mean kind of what I said earlier I think that they're just they're honestly working together um every single one of them coach chrish has done a great job by that of just bringing them all together and I think Antonio and Adam uh I think they lead they lead that group they really do um in a really special way and um you know I think that they're both they're both killing it in it's in that sense there's been a lot made about the offseason work you've put in whether it was Banning Passing Academy the Elite 11 appearances just how have you seen that translate I guess into your game starting in these next couple weeks with fall camp uh yeah I mean just it's little things you know it's nothing dramatic um just a couple little tips that I heard here and there and um you know it was definitely some cool experiences getting to talk to some some guys that did at a really high level and are doing it still at a really high level so um you know definitely some some pretty cool opportunities I get to have but you know it's just you know it's little things and I think the biggest things that I've been able to grow honestly has been with our coaching staff and and uh in just this off SE talking to coach rally and coach Sweeney and seeing how I can get better and um you know just trusting that and going to work one one of your mentors uh Nick FES retired from NFL uh over the past couple days I guess what is he what is he he meant to you for your over your career and just how PR of you of for his career and helping you throughout yours yeah uh man Nick's awesome man uh I mean one of the best dudes you know best dudes that I know in terms of just you know being a dude um but you know I thought he retired a few years ago to be honest no I'm just kidding he would probably laugh if I said that but you know it was cool to kind of see him retire with the Eagles um that was that was really sweet and you know I just he's he helped me throughout the whole you know High School recruiting process and you know all of high school and my high school career and then whatever I got here and kind of how to you know come into a high school Pro or sorry a college program um you know CAU him a couple weeks ago just saying hey you got any tips on how to use a headset and um just stuff like that so you know just kind of you know when you have a guy like that who's played the position that I play at the highest level you can possibly play and win on the biggest stage in the world um just really thankful to have a a mentor like that that has kind of stood in the fire like I have so you mentioned walker uh just the fact that he's been able to make it to this point of the grind of Camp has to be a pretty big deal think maybe reflect on that what it means to that he's still out there and just to him I guess the confidence and all that absolutely um you know I think yeah exactly what you just said I think just the confidence that it probably brings him is huge and and and with me just knowing that you know he's he's sturdy and he's ready to go um I mean he he looks incredible I mean just you look at him like just his arms and his body like he looks great um just uh so you know just he looks you know sturdy and you know obviously he's put a ton of weight back on and um just really looks really mobile and just excited to have him back I mean just the leader that he is you know I think every room needs a needs an older guy you know and he's he's kind of that guy to that group and um you know just it's it's so fun to have him back and just you know I love Walker he's he's such a great guy and um you know one of my one of my you know favorite people on the team so he's awesome we were talking the K part saying the offensive line has a new DNA just they're playing differently I guess obviously coach Lo brings a certain fire like what have you seen from um I've seen just a group of guys going to work every single day um with a fire in their heart and um and a fire to go get better every single day and you know I think that this season you know I think that they're going to be able to show off the hard work that they've been putting in I think that's really what it comes down to and just really proud of him I'm really proud of how vocal they are um you know Marcus and and Tristan and uh and Blake I think that those three really have stepped up a lot locally um when I need them you know like just the relationship that we all have um has really stepped up a ton this year and um you know just just really proud of them and and the way that they've been just leading that room just that running back obviously we know Phil is there but um we've heard Keith Adams is very unique obviously in the way he runs what what he observ and just the way he kind of changes things when he's in there and then obviously guys like J haes and David yeah absolutely uh you know I think we have a really good really good running back room uh you know obviously you know Keith Adams is having a heck of a fall camp and then Jay and and uh and David are are both just absolutely killing it um you know whenever you have a guy like Phil mafa you're not gonna you're not going to run them out with the ones and get a 100 plays every day um because that's just that's how you manage a football team I mean you go to the NFL you know you're not going to have you know whoever getting a million a million you know live contact reps whenever you know you know what he can do out there um so we've had you know obviously Keith Jay and and David just kind of getting in there more for more experience you know more more opportunities for them to show what they can do and they've all been killing it um just really proud of the way that you know no ego guys just guys that want to come to work every single day and um just hardworking guys and when they get the ball in their hands they make plays um and that's that's really what we need and um you know smart football players and I'm just really proud of them and the way that Phil's been leading them and uh and the way coach sper has been coaching them anybody else okay J burning stillo I think he was like 23 something pounds last year he's like 245 how different is he now at tight end with extra yeah I mean he just do more uh he hasn't lost any of his athleticism in size uh but just he he's he was already a great football player and uh he just do do more and I think he he feels even more comfortable um the way he's at and um you know just you know excited to you know be able to go play a football game with him um just the way that he can do really anything on the football field um but then you know we we've got a great guys right behind him uh Josh Sapp and and Olen and and Marcus and and Christian I mean those that's a it's a really good tight end room um you know just really excited about that whole room and they've got great chemistry and they're a fun group for sure else all right thanks appreciate y'all