This season Cade Klubnik has raised his level of play higher than many expected. After a tough season in his first year as the starter in 2023, he’s found his groove in 2024. Now, Klubnik is playing his best football in a Tiger uniform. The best part about his recent growth is not just having the fifth-best quarterback rating in the FBS, but the leadership he’s also displayed. His energy and confidence have spread to everyone in the Clemson program. For Tiger fans and anyone who pays close attention to Clemson football, Klubnik’s rise has been great to watch.
Inconsistent First Year
We’ve talked about the inconsistencies from Klubnik in his first year as Clemson’s full-time starting quarterback. His numbers were not bad in 2023 as he placed around the top five in the ACC in several categories. Klubnik was fifth in the conference in passing yards with 2,844 yards. He also tied for the third-best completion percentage in the ACC with 63.9% of his passes completed. As a sophomore Klubnik had nine games with over 200 passing yards, six games with over 250 passing yards, and two games with over 300 passing yards.
Klubnik’s talent showed at times in that first year as the starter. His decision-making is what needed the most work. At times Klubnik’s bad decision-making hurt the Tigers in games. Klubnik threw 19 touchdown passes last season but also threw 9 interceptions. He also lost five fumbles. This means Klubnik was responsible for 14 turnovers total in 2023. All of them were a result of poor decision-making by the young quarterback.
These turnovers were costly in games against Duke, Florida State, and NC State. It was the Achilles heel for Klubnik and the Tigers early in 2023. Coming into this season, the turnover problem has been cleaned up leading to much more success. Klubnik’s decision-making has also been much better and he is playing more efficiently. It did take one more hard lesson against Georgia to get him there though.
Struggles Against Georgia
The struggles for Klubnik continued in week one of this season against Georgia. The Bulldogs made it tough for him to do anything. Klubnik also did not help himself much though. He did not make decisions quickly enough and held on to the ball too long for much of the game. Klubnik finished completing 18 of his 29 pass attempts for 142 yards and an interception. It was a rough way to start the year against what was the top-ranked team in the nation at that time. Klubnik has shown he’s learned from that performance though.
The Turnaround
Following the Georgia game, the Tigers played Appalachian State at home in week two. In that game, Klubnik put on a historic performance that began the surge he and the Tigers’ offense have been on. The junior quarterback completed 92% of his passes against App State completing 24 of his 26 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for two more touchdowns bringing his total for the game to seven touchdowns. This was all in just one half. It was truly a record-breaking performance.
Klubnik’s five passing touchdowns are his career high. The performance against App State made Klubnik the first FBS quarterback in the last 25 years with five or more passing touchdowns, multiple rushing touchdowns, and a completion percentage of 90% or better in a game. His seven touchdowns are the most combined touchdowns for a Tiger in a game since Tajh Boyd in 2011 against NC State. Klubnik also became the first ACC quarterback since Lamar Jackson in 2016 to have at least four passing and two rushing touchdowns in a half. Clemson won the game 66-20 and has been on a roll since.
Continued Success
Since the historic performance against App State, Klubnik has looked like one of the best quarterbacks in college football. For his performance in that game, he was named Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week, Walter camp Offensive Player of the Week, and ACC Co-Quarterback of the Week. Klubnik also won the ACC Quarterback of the Week award a second time for his game against Wake Forest on October 12th.
Currently, Klubnik is top five in passing yards in the ACC, and top 20 in the FBS. He’s got the second-most passing touchdowns in the ACC and is tied for third-most in the FBS. Also, he’s got the most touchdowns of 20+ yards in college football this season with 18. Klubnik’s growth at his position has helped Clemson get back into the top 10 for the first time since the 2023 preseason. If Klubnik continues playing at such a high level the Tigers will have a shot at making a deep postseason run. He also could begin hearing his name creep up more in Heisman conversations.
The main goal for Klubnik and Clemson as a whole is to bring more championship hardware back to Death Valley. Entering its second bye week of the season, there is an opportunity to do just that. If Klubnik and the offense continue to have the success they are, those goals will be achieved.
