Clemson's Cade Klubnik: Leading the Tigers with Elite Play in 2024

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has turned heads with a red-hot start to the 2024 season. The junior from Austin, Texas, has shown remarkable growth and consistency, leaving head coach Dabo Swinney beaming with pride.

"Cade's been very consistent," Swinney said last week. "He's been incredibly consistent week in and week out. I'm really proud of him."

That consistency continued this weekend during Clemson’s 49-14 win over Wake Forest.

Klubnik’s performance through six games has him among the nation's top quarterbacks, but for Swinney, it's not just about the stats—it's about the noticeable improvement. After an up-and-down sophomore season, Klubnik has taken significant steps forward.

"He's been really consistent. Totally different from last year," Swinney explained. "I mean, last year, he did a lot of good things, but he would have a lot of things that we got to get better at, and those things that he's got to improve—it's a smaller list each week."

Through six games, Klubnik has completed 123 of 184 passes for 1,528 yards and 17 touchdowns while only throwing two interceptions. His QBR of 88.3 ranks him among the nation’s elite. In addition to his passing, Klubnik has shown mobility, rushing for 139 yards and two scores on 42 carries. Clemson’s offense has become increasingly dynamic with him at the helm.

"He's taking care of the ball. He's not taking a bunch of negative plays. He's using his legs," Swinney said, emphasizing the control Klubnik now commands over the offense. "He's got complete command of the offense."

The combination of passing precision, smart decision-making, and leadership has led Swinney to acknowledge that Klubnik is playing at an elite level. “Yeah, no question," Swinney said when asked about the quarterback’s standing. "I mean, it's only six games, but there's no doubt he's playing at an elite level."

Statistically, Klubnik ranks 30th in passing yards nationally, but with fewer attempts than most quarterbacks ahead of him. He’s tied for sixth in passing touchdowns and boasts the fewest interceptions among the top passers.

“Comparatively to probably everybody in the country, I would say he's right there with the best of the best,” Swinney said during his Sunday teleconference. “I would find it hard to believe that there are many guys ahead of where he is as far as what he's done in six games.”

The numbers tell part of the story, but Klubnik’s poise and resilience have become defining traits of his leadership. After Saturday’s win over Wake Forest, Klubnik reflected on the team’s ability to bounce back after a slow start.

“I think that the number one thing I can really think of to make this team, in one word, is we're resilient,” Klubnik said. “Six straight touchdowns after not getting anything on the first two drives? That’s huge just to finish the way we did.”

As Swinney pointed out, Klubnik has grown tremendously in handling adversity. “He's just really doing a nice job for us, but I don't think there's any question, from my perspective, there's more there," Swinney said. "He'll tell you the same thing."

That mindset of continuous improvement has defined Klubnik’s journey since his arrival at Clemson from Westlake High School. Standing 6'2" and weighing 210 pounds, the junior quarterback is using every tool at his disposal.

"He's using all of his tools, and when he makes a bad play, it doesn't carry over. He moves on," Swinney said. "Guys are making plays for him too. So it's fun to see it come together."

With Klubnik's consistent play and Clemson sitting in a favorable position, the sky's the limit for the Tigers. And as Swinney confidently declared, "I think that's elite."

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