Clemson football fans have eagerly awaited the start of the Garrett Riley era, and early signs suggest that the offense is poised for continued success under the new offensive coordinator.
Riley, who joined the Tigers’ coaching staff in January, brings with him an impressive track record of success as an offensive coach. He spent the previous season seasons at TCU, where he helped guide the Horn Frogs to the national championship game. Prior to that, Riley served as the offensive coordinator at SMU and Appalachian State.
With the departure of former offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter, who was let go in early January, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney knew he had to make a big-name hire. Swinney was confident that Riley was the right man for the job.
“A great fit for us. I think he is one of the bright offensive minds in the game,” Swinney said “I think he’s a great fit for Clemson.”
Dabo Swinney
Having a quarterback like Cade Klubnik who is already familiar with the concepts of this offense can be a huge advantage, both in terms of minimizing the learning curve for Klubnik and allowing Riley to tailor his game plans to the strengths of his new quarterback. Klubnik’s experience in a high-powered offense should also give him confidence and poise under pressure, two traits that are essential for success at the quarterback position.
Of course, there will still be challenges for Klubnik as he learns the terminology of Riley’s offense. He will need to develop a rapport with his new receivers and adjust to the speed and complexity of college defenses. But with his background in the air raid offense and the guidance of Riley, who has a proven track record of success with quarterbacks, Klubnik has the potential to thrive at Clemson and help lead the Tigers to success.
In addition to Klubnik, the Tigers return a talented group of skill position players, including running backs Will Shipley and Phil Mafaph and wide receivers Beau Collins and Antonio Williams. Ross, who missed all of last season due to injury, is expected to be a major contributor in Riley’s offense this season.
“We have a lot of weapons on this offense,” Riley said. “If it’s easy for the quarterback you are going to reap the benefits from it.”
Garrett Riley
While it’s still early in the offseason, there is already a buzz around Clemson’s offense under the Garrett Riley era. With a talented group of players and a proven offensive coordinator at the helm, there’s every reason to believe that the Tigers’ offense will continue to be one of the most dynamic and explosive units in college football.
