Every week Clemson Wire chooses an offensive and defensive participant of the sport following every of the Tigers matchups this season.
In seventh-ranked Clemson’s newest 31-14 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers, true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik obtained his first profession begin for the Tigers and regardless of seeing 320 passing yards and practically 500 yards of whole offense, Clemson was solely in a position to make one journey to the tip zone all through Friday night time’s 4 quarters.
After spending most of December prepping for Tennessee’s excessive tempo offense, Wes Goodwin’s protection was in a position to give the Volunteers somewhat little bit of hassle, recording 69 tackles (8.0 for loss), 4 move break ups and sacking quarterback Joe Milton III 4 instances regardless of finally coming away with the disappointing loss ultimately.
Listed here are Clemson Wire’s picks for the ultimate installment of offensive and defensive gamers of the sport for the 2022-23 season.
Offensive Participant of the Sport: Cade Klubnik
Syndication: The Knoxville Information-Sentinel
Although many might place the blame on true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik for the Tiger’s Orange Bowl loss, Klubnik did present quite a lot of promise and left all of it on the sector regardless of some pricey errors. In his first begin on the helm, Klubnik threw for 320 yards and related with eight completely different receivers whereas rating second in speeding with 51 yards and operating within the Tigers lone landing of the night time. The Texas native did throw two interceptions within the fourth quarter, however Klubnik did present flashes of what’s to come back each by means of the air and on the bottom.
Defensive Participant of the Sport: Barrett Carter
Syndication: The Knoxville Information-Sentinel
Clemson’s linebacker room has continued to be a vivid spot for this 12 months’s protection and Friday’s Orange Bowl was no exception. Barrett Carter had one other spectacular exhibiting for the Tigers, recording eight tackles (one for loss), two move breakups and one sack, which resulted in a Tennessee punt within the third quarter.
Honorable Point out: Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Credit score: Wealthy Storry-USA TODAY Sports activities
Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. led Clemson’s protection versus the Volunteers, garnering 9 tackles (1.5 for loss) and making large performs when it mattered most. Although the Tigers got here away with the loss, Wes Goodwin’s linebacker room has a vivid future forward with a stellar duo in Trotter and Carter, who’re each set to return subsequent season.
Honorable Point out: Joseph Ngata
Credit score: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports activities
Ngata led the Tigers in receiving for the second week in a row with eight receptions for 84 yards versus Tennessee. The fourth-year senior, who has but to share his future with the Clemson program after this season, was the Tigers second-best receiver this season behind true freshman Antonio Williams, recording 41 receptions for 526 yards and two touchdowns over the course of 14 video games.
Honorable Point out: Cole Turner
Credit score: Wealthy Storry-USA TODAY Sports activities
True freshman Cole Turner emerged in direction of the tip of the season as a favourite goal of fellow rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik and appears to have a promising profession headed into the low season. Turner, whose brother Nolan performed security for the Tigers from 2016-21, recorded 4 receptions for 51 yards and a stellar 33-yard reception in Clemson’s first drive of the night time versus Tennessee. Regardless of solely seeing the sector in three of the Tigers contests this season, the 6-foot-one, 180-pound receiver appears to have a vivid future forward within the Clemson uniform.