QB Cade Klubnik has spent his entire college career under Dabo Swinney at Clemson, and in 2025, all eyes are on him.
Touted as a potential first-round NFL pick, Klubnik’s one of the most hyped quarterbacks in the nation. But while some believe he’s the real deal, others aren’t sold yet, and they have strong reasons. So what’s holding him back?
Analyst Believes Dabo Swinney’s Offense Could Hurt Cade Klubnik’s Draft Stock
Cade Klubnik is gearing up for his fourth year in college football and his third as Clemson’s starting QB. He’s expected to be draft-eligible in 2026. While many project him as a first-round talent, not everyone is sold.
On a recent episode of “The Andy and Ari Show” from On3, college football analyst Clark Brooks voiced doubts about Klubnik’s being among college football elite QBs.
“For the unobserved, 33 is one spot outside of our impact five stars. That means I don’t think he is going to be a first-round pick,” Brooks said. “And while I may have whispered that part, I’m going to scream this one… He has had a negative interception-to-explosive-pass ratio. That matters.”
Brooks criticized Clemson’s offense for relying too much on short throws. He argued that it limits Klubnik’s ability to stretch the field and puts him in tougher situations. While Klubnik attempts more downfield passes than many of his peers, Brooks pointed to a lack of explosive plays when it matters most.
Still, there’s one game that Brook acknowledges Klubnik stood out in. It was the high-stakes December showdown against Texas, and Klubnik put on a show in his hometown, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns. For many, that performance was a glimpse of the QB he could be.
QB Klubnik’s statistical leap is impossible to overlook. PFF ranked him 102nd among FBS quarterbacks in 2023 with a 63.9 passing grade. But by 2024, he skyrocketed to fifth overall with an impressive 87.7 rating. He recorded 28 big-time throws that season, doubling his total from the previous two combined years.
ESPN’s data highlights his deep-threat ability — Klubnik led the nation with 16 touchdown passes of 20-plus yards last year and averaged 16.6 yards per deep attempt. He also improved ball security, reducing his turnover-worthy plays from 18 in 2023 to 13 in 2024, even with 30 more dropbacks, dropping his turnover rate from 3.3% to 2.3%.
Despite these numbers, analyst Brooks remains skeptical of Klubnik’s potential. He praises Clemson’s team but questions their quarterback. Can Klubnik step up in 2025 and silence his critics once and for all?
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