Dabo Swinney gives Cade Klubnik injury update for Clemson vs Louisville game
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CLEMSON — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney said quarterback Cade Klubnik is feeling considerably better entering the Louisville game after battling an ankle injury and quad contusion.
“Ankle’s good. He didn’t really have any problems in the (Florida State) game from the ankle, but he could hardly walk last week because of his thigh,” Swinney said Nov. 11. “… He’s a lot of better than he was this time last week because he practiced. He’s doing better”
Swinney said Klubnik didn’t practice much leading into the Week 11 game against Florida State after suffering a quad contusion vs. Duke. Klubnik did not appear on the ACC’s availability report despite not practicing. He also appeared to roll his ankle in the fourth quarter vs. FSU, but Klubnik said after the game he’ll be OK despite having one less day to prepare for the Cardinals.
Clemson (4-5, 3-4 ACC) will face No. 21 Louisville (7-2, 4-2) on Nov. 14 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Kentucky. The Tigers need to win two of their final three games to be bowl eligible, unless there aren’t enough 6-6 teams to fill every bowl slot, which could give a 5-7 Clemson a shot based on its academic progress rate.
Klubnik has completed 77.8% of his passes for 1,140 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception and rushed for two scores in his last four starts since missing the SMU game in Week 9. He is performing much better than his first four starts this season when he completed 60.1% of his passes for 996 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions and rushing for a score.
Swinney said Klubnik’s toughness has rubbed off on Clemson players despite the Tigers having a disappointing season.
“He’s got complete respect of this football team. He’s a warrior, man,” Swinney said. “If Cade Klubnik can play, he’s gonna play. There’s a lot of guys who wouldn’t be playing, especially guys who know they’re going on to the NFL.”
Why Dabo Swinney will promote Dennis Love to strength coach
Dabo Swinney announced assistant football strength and conditioning coach Dennis Love will be the team’s strength and conditioning coach in 2026 after the retirement of Joey Batson, who has been the strength coach since 1997.
Love returned to Clemson in January 2022 and was the Tigers from 2004-14. He served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Auburn in 2021 after he was associate director of football strength and conditioning at Purdue from 2017-20. He was an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Denver Broncos in 2015 and 2016.
Swinney said the decision was made in the offseason amid Batson’s health issues and Love considering taking the Minnesota Vikings’ strength coach job.
“He’ll put his own stamp on it, and again, he’s one of the most respected guys out there,” Swinney said. “That’s why he’s had opportunities that he’s had.”
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Cade Klubnik injury news, Dabo Swinney updates Clemson QB’s status
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