Cade Klubnik's return to Austin to face former high school rival Quinn Ewers is one of the more compelling stories of the inaugural 12-team playoff.
The story has fascinating roots, and with that in mind we revisit two interviews we conducted years ago to learn more about Klubnik's background:
-- With Klubnik in December of 2021, days before he was to fly to Clemson to begin life as a Tiger;
-- With Klubnik's high school coach, Todd Dodge, in December of 2022 as Klubnik was set to take over as Clemson's starting quarterback.
The most remarkable part of Klubnik's journey to Clemson is that he stuck with the Tigers even when they didn't offer him. He had to wait until Ty Simpson decided between Clemson and Alabama before that offer came. And meanwhile, Steve Sarkisian at Texas and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M had already offered him.
Dodge decided to retire after Klubnik led Westlake High School to a third consecutive state title as a senior. After two years out of the game, Dodge returned to the football field last offseason when he took over at Lovejoy High in Lucas, Texas.
At some point during Klubnik's freshman season at Clemson in 2022, Dodge got curious and asked Klubnik what kind of NIL deal he had.
"He told me he didn't feel comfortable taking any NIL. He told me: 'I haven't done anything yet. Until I actually do something, I don't think I deserve any NIL.'"
Klubnik and Dodge interview
And here are the previous two in case you missed them:
B.T. Potter
Roy Philpott
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