Clemson TE Jake Briningstool building chemistry with freshman QB Cade Klubnik

CLEMSON — It seemed like a glimpse into the future, perhaps even a not-too-distant one.

Clemson football’s spring game could have been the unofficial start of a special connection. Sophomore tight end Jake Briningstool was targeted seven times by freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik, nine times in all, as they displayed a quickly developing bond.

Briningstool, 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, finished with seven catches for 58 yards. He was a safety net for not only the highly touted rookie Klubnik but also a couple of times for former walk-on Hunter Helms, a rising third-year quarterback.

“The main thing for us is we wanted to win, so we got that taken care of (as White beat Orange, 15-7),” Briningstool said. “And then it’s just getting better and building cohesion as an offense. Working with Cade coming in as the new guy, I’m trying to get on the same page. I think we learned a lot and got a lot out of it.”

Briningstool was already a fast riser in spring camp and elevated even further with returning starter Davis Allen sidelined while recovering from an injury. Backup Sage Ennis was out, too. Jaelyn Lay has transferred to Alabama State. Braden Galloway is hoping for a shot at the NFL.

That left Briningstool as the No. 1 tight end, although he had his own slight setback with a hip pointer. For the scrimmage, he landed on the same team as Klubnik, the No. 2 quarterback behind junior incumbent D.J. Uiagalelei. Klubnik completed 15 of 23 passes for 106 yards with a touchdowns.

“I think the kid played great,” Briningstool said. “He stepped up when he needed to. He’s always been a guy, since he got here, you can count on. … I think they’ll battle it out for sure. But I’m not really going to get into that.”

Clemson spring game: Takeaways from Clemson spring game: D.J. Uiagalelei same shaky starter

Related: Freshman QB Cade Klubnik throws game-winning TD in Clemson spring game

Story continues

Clemson coaches intended to redshirt Briningstool last season as an early enrollee freshman, but that changed because of injuries, most notably Galloway missing the last six games and managing just one catch in the last 12. Briningstool got 78 snaps in the last four games with three catches for 67 yards a touchdown. That was playing with Allen, who ranked behind only wide receivers Justyn Ross and Beaux Collins with 28 reception and tied them with three touchdowns.

“Brinny is as good as anybody (in the tight end group) when it comes to the passing game,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “He’s so much better and further along in understanding the schemes and the protections and where he fits. … He’s still developing in that area. But he’s a naturally physical guy, which I love about him.”

“I got a lot better from the beginning of spring to now,” Briningstool said. “I’ll be even better in the fall. For me, I just want to be a better tight end all-around. I think I was able to do that throughout spring. When we get to the fall, I can show what I can do.”

Briningstool has improved greatly as a blocker and gained 20 pounds of muscle since he first arrived on campus. He won’t shy away from contact, either. At Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee, the four-star tight end also played defensive end.

“I loved defense,” Briningstool said. “My dad (Tony Briningstool) was a linebacker in college (Michigan State), so he would help me out a little bit and give me some tops. It was awesome. Defense was so fun.”

Following last year’s nine-win regular season, quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter took over for offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, who left to become coach at Virginia. Kyle Richardson took Elliott’s position group, the tight ends.

“I love Coach E and I’m happy for him,” Briningstool said. “But Coach Streeter is doing a great job. It started back in the bowl game (a 20-13 win against Iowa State), when he really took over. It’s headed in the right direction for the tight end position and all across the board. … When we come back in the fall and get everybody back on offense, all the guys we need, I think we’ll be able to come together and build cohesion like I was talking about and just take off from there.”

Clemson will open the season Sept. 5 in a Monday night game at Georgia Tech. The Tigers will then play host Sept. 10 to Furman and Sept 17 to Louisiana Tech, followed by a trip to Wake Forest and the ACC home opener against N.C. State.

Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY network.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Tight end getting ‘on same page’ with Clemson rookie QB Cade Klubnik