Cade Klubnik and Arch Manning—two elite quarterbacks, two different paths, and one ongoing debate. They are the most talked-about quarterbacks heading into the 2025 college football season.
While Manning, now the starting QB for Texas, was a five-star recruit ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 class, Klubnik was also a five-star prospect but didn’t carry the same generational hype.
Despite Klubnik’s strong performances at Clemson, he sits outside the “Impact Five-Stars” category. This, in turn, sparked debate among analysts during a recent discussion, which was fun overall.
Insider Reveals Surprising Reason Cade Klubnik Isn’t Ranked as Top-Tier QB
We are heading into the 2025 college football season, and the player generating the most hype is the Texas Longhorns quarterback, Manning. He is everywhere and is considered the No. 1 quarterback for the upcoming season. However, there is an underdog quietly rising in prominence who hasn’t yet fully come into the spotlight—Cade Klubnik.
College football analysts Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman recently ranked the Top 100 players in college football during a recent episode of the “Andy & Ari On3 Podcast.” Special guest Clark Brooks joined them this time. While Staples and Wasserman consistently named Manning their top quarterback, this time, Staples didn’t hold back when expressing his strong belief in Klubnik’s potential.
Andy Staples voiced his belief in Klubnik’s potential: “Let’s talk about a guy from Austin that plays in South Carolina, and that’s Cade Klubnik, who you are not as big of a believer in as I am.” He continued, “I am Mr. Cade Klubnik bandwagon band jumper. I am driving through Cade Klubnik bandwagon, but you got him down at No. 3,3, so what am I missing here?”
However, Clark Brooks questioned Klubnik’s ranking, stating, “For the unobserved, 33 that is one spot outside our impact five stars. That means I don’t think he’ll be a first-round quarterback, and while I may have whispered that part, I’m going to scream this one. He has a negative interception-to-explosive-pass ratio. That matters. He throws himself into harm’s way a lot. Now, some of that is because of the team’s offense.”
Wasserman also pointed out clear holes in Klubnik’s game that must be addressed before he reaches the next level.
However, Staples isn’t the only one high on Klubnik. Before him, respected college football analyst Joel Klatt ranked Klubnik as the No. 1 quarterback for the 2025 season, placing Arch Manning at No. 2. Klatt praised Klubnik’s experience, leadership, and consistency, while also acknowledging Manning’s elite mobility and arm talent.
KEEP READING: Can QB Cade Klubnik Lead Clemson to a Championship in 2025? Joel Klatt Believes So
Staples’ support for Klubnik seems well-founded, especially considering his impressive 2024 stats: 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and just six interceptions — numbers that clearly reflect a high-level performer.
But we can’t just ignore Brooks’ concerns. Klubnik’s decision-making and tendency to throw risky passes have kept him just outside the elite tier. Meanwhile, Manning, despite limited playing time in his first two seasons, has shown flashes of brilliance, including a five-touchdown performance against UTSA.
The Klubnik vs. Manning debate is far from over, as both quarterbacks prepare for what could be career-defining seasons. However, one thing is clear: Klubnik’s chances of breaking into the “Impact Five-Stars” category will depend on his ability to improve his decision-making and reduce costly mistakes.
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