Clemson OC Garrett Riley on his relationship with Cade Klubnik

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Garrett Riley doesn’t talk about Clemson starter Cade Klubnik like he’s just another quarterback he coaches. When Riley brings him up, it sounds more like he’s describing someone who has become part of his everyday life — someone he’s invested in beyond the usual meetings and game plans.

“I love him, I really do,” Riley said. “He is a mentally tough guy. We’ve gone through it together, and there is a lot of common ground. We are from the same state, kind of grew up the same way in terms of high school football in Texas.”

Their shared background created an easy starting point, but the connection didn’t develop on nostalgia alone. Riley has always been the kind of coach who values the relationships that come with the job, and Klubnik quickly became the player he spent the most time helping, challenging, and relying on. Whether it was film work, on-field adjustments, or long conversations about where the offense was headed, the two were rarely far apart.

“Any time you are with someone and you’re going through the ups and downs together, and trying to mentor and guide him, there’s going to be a connection,” Riley said, “and there certainly is with him.”

That bond shows up in the way Klubnik has grown. The quarterback who once needed steady guidance has turned into someone capable of carrying entire stretches of the offense, piling up touchdowns and handling heavy responsibility without blinking. The jump he made, especially in efficiency and production, traces directly back to the trust between him and the coach who tailored the attack around him.

Riley sees it as more than on-field progress. He sees someone who’s going to thrive anywhere life takes him.

“He’s going to be one of those guys who’s going to be successful no matter what he does in the future,” Riley said, “and our relationship will be a long-lasting one.”

Their next step together comes Saturday at 4:30 p.m., when the Tigers host Furman in what will be the final time Riley and Klubnik share the home sideline — a moment less about stats or history and more about a partnership that shaped both of them.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson’s Garrett Riley talks Cade Klubnik, love for his quarterback

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