Does Clemson have a QB controversy between DJ Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik? | College Football Enquirer

Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel, and Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde discuss Clemson’s comeback win over Syracuse led by freshman QB Cade Klubnik, and debate if DJ Uiagalelei’s time as the Tigers’ starter may be limited.

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DAN WETZEL: Let me tell you what we don't have, Pat. Let me tell you-- undoubtedly, we do not have this, a quarterback controversy in Clemson. We do not have that. We do not. No. No, there is not a quarterback controversy. As far as DJ, DJ's our starter. DJ's our leader. Clemson Coach, William Christopher Sweeney said nothing's changed there.

Well, he may be the starter, but I can tell you what did change, the second half of the game. The end of the game against Syracuse, Clemson was in a whole bunch of trouble trailing 21-7 in the second quarter. It is looking like-- like could this be it? Is-- remember I said, go to the cider mill, but monitor-- and all of a sudden, there was a whole bunch of people at the cider mill going, wait, I was steered wrong. This could be the big event.

DJ, 13 of 21, two interceptions, a fumble that led to a-- lead to a touchdown by Syracuse, and they pull the plug on him. Freshman, five star recruit, Cade Klubnik gets put into the game. It's not like he turned into Tom Brady, but two for four, but they started scoring touchdowns, and led the dramatic comeback. Clemson wins 27-21, keeps the National Title hopes alive, and there was a spark when he got in the game.

I think this game is mainly on the Clemson defense for a second half shutout and all that, but Klubnik was there for the series that mattered, and Clemson wins. So if we don't have a quarterback controversy because William Christopher would never steer us wrong, Pat, what do we have here because I think I know where the fans are thinking?

PAT FORDE: Oh, yeah, the fans think there's a controversy. If we don't have a controversy, we have a situation at least. We have a situation.

DAN WETZEL: Ongoing saga. Ongoing saga.

PAT FORDE: We do, and it has been ongoing really since the first game, or before that since Klubnik got on campus, and everybody saw, OK, this guy is a legit five star dude. In the first game against Georgia Tech, Klubnik got in late, game was in hand, but he looked like he looked Saturday, in terms of if you just-- there's a lot of energy. He's moving fast. He's making fast decisions. They are moving the ball. They score, and DJ really has had a good season.

He's played well for the most part. He certainly played better than he did last year, markedly better. And everybody loves DJ because he is a really good guy. You know, I mean, he is one of those team first guys. He's almost painfully, like, deferential, but he's a good teammate. And so people have very much, around the program, have kind of circled the wagons around him, but they were in big trouble at home against Syracuse.

And it was just one drive after another into scoring range that would blow up, and it wasn't all him, but he did make some key mistakes there. And there's no doubt, look, Dabo changed quarterbacks because he was afraid they were going to lose if they stuck with DJ. So the quarterback changed. They score 17 points in the fourth quarter with Klubnik leading the way.

And, yeah, the best thing Klubnik did was to fall down when he got hit right out of bounds on a third and 25, on what was called a late hit that kept the drive alive, that got them going and got them scoring. I think it was a good call because first of all, it was just a dumb play, and I don't think you reward a dumb play because it's third and 25. He goes out of bounds 15 yards short of the sticks, and you go over and hit him in a borderline spot there.

What was bad was then Clemson got away with a similar hit on a third down later that would have kept a Syracuse drive alive. But, anyway, you are correct that the Clemson defense was the star of the game. The flags, also, were a factor, but, also-- but the quarterback situation was a factor.

And at the very least, I would say, Dan, if you don't have a controversy, you at least have a situation where you might have a quicker hook with DJ going forward in games that are close and say, hey, if we need a spark, we got a spark. We got this guy right here. And you hope DJ is strong enough mentally to handle that without spending time looking over his shoulder, per se. The Clemson schedule is not that hard going forward.

They've got an off week, and then they're at Notre Dame, which sounds good, but, frankly, shouldn't be that hard a game. Louisville at home, Miami at home, South Carolina at home. The South Carolina game is getting a little more interesting, but--

DAN WETZEL: We're going to get to the 'Cock Commanders, don't worry.

PAT FORDE: Yeah. Yeah, but I-- you know what? I think you can manage this situation, non controversy, and be OK for the next three games, and then we'll see where they are for the rivalry game.