Quarterback competition
First off, all of Clemson nation wishes to thank QB Ty Simpson for deciding on Alabama. Simpson deciding on the Tide dropped the #1 QB in the nation in the 2022 class into the laps of the Clemson Tigers. Cade Klubnik (#2) is the Texas Gatorade Player of the year, playing in the top classification in Texas, and led Westlake High School to two straight State Championships and a 30-0 record. Simpson, also Gatorade Player of the Year in Tennessee, led Westview High School to the 2A State Championship and a 14-1 record. It’s going to be a couple of years before who actually got the better quarterback, Clemson or Alabama.
Klubnik is expected to come in and compete with current quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (#5) for the starting job. DJ has a cannon for an arm, is big and strong, and has been in the system for two years. It would be a daunting task for any freshman quarterback to come in and face this. Klubnik is more than up to the challenge. All eyes will be on the two quarterbacks at the Spring game.
Hunter Johnson enrolled in Clemson on February 1st, 2017, as a 5-star quarterback out of the state of Indiana. Once he got to Clemson and realized that Trevor Lawrence was the real deal, he transferred to Northwestern. Armed with a masters degree from that university, Johnson contacted Dabo and asked about the possibility of being a GA as he was coming back to Clemson to get his MBA. Long story short, Johnson has one year of eligibility remaining (Covid year) and has decided to use it. Dabo was thrilled and the Tigers now have a quarterback with 4 years of college experience to add to the position.
Sophomore Hunter Helms (#18) and freshman Billy Wiles (#17) have a tougher road to playing time this year, especially since Johnson came back to Clemson. It is a daunting task to try and overcome three 5-star quarterbacks.
The Tigers signed two quarterbacks as Preferred Walk-Ons who will be arriving in the fall to add to this quarterback room. Trent Pearman, the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year two straight years, will join in the hunt for playing and will probably get a redshirt year. Caleb Nix had a great senior year at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama, but he will forego quarterback and move to safety when he gets to Clemson.
The quarterback room at Clemson in 2021 was sophomore DJ Uiagalelei and two walk-ons as backups. Taisun Phommachanh got hurt in the spring game and was unavailable till late in the season. He eventually transferred. DJ battled both his own injuries (knee, index finger) as well as multiple injuries to his receiving corp. 2022 gets started in the spring. It will be a much improved unit with the addition of Klubnik and Johnson.
