ESPN Future QB Power Rankings: Tigers Take Tumble

ESPN recently released its future QB Power Rankings, which forecasts future quarterback situations are in college football.

The rankings predict where each program stands looking over the next three seasons and after coming in at No. 2 last year, Clemson has taken a tumble all the way down to No. 17 for the 2022-24 seasons.

After struggling through the 2021 season, DJ Uiagalelei enters his junior season looking to live up to lofty expectations that accompanied his arrival in Clemson. Behind him on the depth chart are former walk ons Hunter Helms and Billy Wiles.

Freshman Cade Klubnik is also now on campus. The former 5-star player was the top quarterback in the 2022 class, and there are similar expectations surrounding his arrival as there were with Uiagalelei, Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson. He’s been impressive early on in spring practice and if Uiagalelei continues to struggle should be a viable option off the bench.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg wrote:

“I can’t remember an elite program that returns both its head coach and starting quarterback, and faces as many question marks as Clemson does in 2022. Offensive coordinator Tony Elliott finally took a head-coaching job, and coach Dabo Swinney replaced him with quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter, a former Clemson QB who has overseen the position since 2015. Streeter will try to engineer improvement with Uiagalelei, who looked good in limited action as a freshman but threw more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (9) last season and finished 97th nationally in total QBR (43.2). Uiagalelei has size, arm strength and a slimmed-down frame, but must recapture his confidence to lead a unit with fewer assurances than usual.”