Clemson QB Cade Klubnik is a Loose Cannon

He didn’t excite me.

That’s how I felt while watching every snap Clemson quarterback (QB) Cade Klubnik took in 2024.

This is scouting in its simplest form.

Bottom line ⎯

Does the prospect excite me when I watch his game film?

Never mind all the fancy scouting jargon. There’s a time and a place for that, but this is really what it comes down to.

I spent the better part of a week marinating in Klubnik’s game film, and while he had his moments, he just did not do it for me as an evaluator. That’s the real reason it took me so long to grind through his film.

Klubnik didn’t hold my attention.

It was as interesting as it was frustrating watching him play. It was almost too much. There are just a lot of moving puzzle pieces with Klubnik. Almost too many. He does everything well, and he does everything inconsistently.

The last time I evaluated Klubnik, I evaluated every single snap he took for Clemson in 2023, and I walked away giving him an undraftable free agent grade.

Did he improve at all in 2024?

Slightly.

Too many dangerous passes by Klubnik

Let’s jump right into this ⎯

I charted 41 pass breakups (PBUs) in 14 games (2.93 per game average). The PBUs are now a distinct pattern with Klubnik after he had 42 PBUs in 13 games in 2023 (3.23 per game average).

That’s a lot of PBUs.

Add in nine interceptions in 2023 and six in 2024.

Sounds like a defense’s dream come true.

Why’s this happening?

Klubnik has a nasty tendency to force the ball, and there are other reasons, too.

Klubnik and his imperfect timing

Per Pro Football Focus (Klubnik’s game-by-game 2024 time to throw in seconds):

• Georgia 2.81
• Appalachian State 2.22
• NC State 2.31
• Stanford 2.79
• Florida State 2.58
• Wake Forest 2.65
• Virginia 2.76
• Louisville 3.16
• Virginia Tech 2.71
• Pitt 2.31
• The Citadel 2.77
• South Carolina 2.13
• Texas 2.77
• SMU 2.64

And that’s exactly the way it looked on tape.

What’s causing these issues?

KLUBNIK’S FOOTWORK

His dropbacks are all over the place. Sometimes his footwork looks precise when he throws, and sometimes it looks anything but. Heading into 2024, per Athlon Sports, Clemson had the No. 12-ranked offensive line in the country.

You won’t know it by watching the games.

Klubnik was running for his life more often than not, being put into position (and putting himself into position) to create.

What was his biggest improvement in 2024?

Downfield aggression ⎯

In 2023, I charted Klubnik going 8/25 on pass attempts +19 air yards (32%). In 2024, not only did Klubnik attack downfield more (which was my favorite part of his game), but his accuracy improved, going 30/66 (45.4%).

#2 Cade Klubnik 6-foot-2, 210 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Spring Grade: Fifth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 75.8% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of May 24, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Clemson QB Cade Klubnik Struggles to Take Care of the Football (2023: 13 games evaluated)

2024 game film evaluated: Georgia, Appalachian State, NC State, Stanford, FSU, Wake Forest, Virginia, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Pitt, The Citadel, South Carolina, SMU, and Texas (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Injury risk: High

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Inconsistent athletic dual role prospect who absorbs a lot of contact. In command. A lot of hand signals. Quick movements. Driven. Poised. Eyes downfield. Seems at home in a dirty pocket. Fearless in the face of pressure. Can become tunnel-visioned. Good mobility. Irregular throwing mechanics. Solid going through his progressions. Strong arm. Lacks touch. Can run tempo, but then that process breaks down. Tends to put too much upper body into his throws and push throws, which causes inconsistent location control. Overconfident in his arm. Below average to above average anticipation. Spreads the ball around. Solid off platform. Deep ball can hang up in the air too long. Sometimes makes some bad throwing decisions. Physical runner. Below average at protecting his body.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. What does his footwork look like when he throws?

2. Timing of throws?

3. Are a lot of his passes getting broken up?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.