Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik is one of college football’s best-returning QBs. He backed this up with an impressive pro day and showed his skills to plenty of NFL scouts.
Cade Klubnik Impresses a Number of NFL Scouts
At a recent pro day, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik showed off in front of several NFL scouts, which is why he is regarded as the best-returning quarterback in the ACC.
He missed a couple of throws, but one that really caught the eye was a 60-yard dime to tight end Jake Briningstool. Klubnik ran a play-action, faking the hand-off before dropping it into the path of his TE with ease.
Clemson rising senior QB Cade Klubnik missed a couple throws in this pro day session with TE Jake Briningstool. But he finishes with a nice 55/60 yard-ish throw downfield in front of dozens of NFL scouts pic.twitter.com/AlJNNoHOkA
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) March 13, 2025
As a Junior, he led the Tigers to the 2024 ACC Champions after a 10-4 season and going 7-1 in the conference. A 9-3 regular season saw them take on the SMU Mustangs in the ACC Championship game, with Klubnik and the Tigers winning 34-31 as the quarterback threw four touchdowns.
They went into the CFB Playoffs as the 12 seed but were comfortably beaten 38-24 by the Texas Longhorns.
That throw is just a tiny piece of the puzzle with Klubnik. In 2024, he threw for 3639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. His quarterback rating of 78.7 was the 12th best in the nation, and he is returning for Clemson, making them a real threat for a deep playoff run.
What makes Klubnik so good is that he is exceptional at both standing in the pocket and when needing to be mobile. Last season, he rushed for 463 yards and seven touchdowns. He could easily have gone in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft but decided to return to Clemson to continue his development.
As shown on a pro day, he has a brilliant deep ball touch and can find receivers when they find separation, but he also hits tight windows. The dual-threat ability is so big in the NFL that it has intrigued scouts, along with his ability to quickly get the ball out when under pressure.
2024 showed how he is able to hang with elite competition and won’t be fazed when he finally hits the NFL. If he does end up on a struggling team as their new quarterback, he has a nice ability to improvise in chaos. When things break down around him, he can find receivers on the run or use his mobility to make a gain.
PFF has him as the top returning quarterback in the ACC, saying, “There might not have been a more improved quarterback in college football this past season than Klubnik.”
Likewise, Athlon Sports has him in the same spot, claiming he “could end 2025 as the top overall quarterback in college football.”
That could happen as Clemson has a wide receiver trio of Antonio Williams (904 yards), Bryant Wesco Jr. (708 yards), and T.J. Moore (651 yards) that will be even better in 2025. The relationship those three have with Klubnik is already sublime. Defensively, they will also be solid after Dabo Swinney finally dipped into the transfer portal.
A tough schedule is made slightly easier by SMU, Florida State, and Syracuse all visiting Clemson, along with the LSU Tigers also visiting.
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With Klubnik behind center and so many more quality returning players, it is hard to look past them winning the ACC Championship in 2025 and then making the playoffs.
There is no doubt about Klubnik’s talent, and another big year for Clemson will see him fly up the 2026 NFL draft boards. He has it all, and this Tigers team isn’t to be taken lightly. Their quarterback hopes to repeat the 2024 ACC Championship win and go further in the postseason.
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