Clemson will have QB Cade Klubnik back for another season in 2025.
The Tigers’ starter announced Monday that he’d return for his senior season after Clemson won the ACC and made the College Football Playoff in 2024.
Klubnik has been Clemson’s starter since taking over for DJ Uiagalelei in the Orange Bowl at the end of the 2022 season. Klubnik appeared in 10 games that season, but his performance against Tennessee made it clear that he was the QB of the future for the Tigers.
Klubnik made a leap in 2024 after a rocky first season under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. This season, Klubnik was 308-of-486 passing for 3,639 yards and threw 36 TDs to just six interceptions. He also rushed for seven touchdowns. Ahead of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, Klubnik’s 43 total touchdowns rank only behind Miami’s Cam Ward and Washington State’s John Mateer at 44 for the most at the top level of college football this season.
A season ago, Klubnik had just 23 total touchdowns as Clemson went 9-4 after winning the Gator Bowl. This season, the Tigers lost to both Georgia and South Carolina but went 7-1 in ACC play to make the conference title game after Miami lost to Syracuse on the final weekend of the regular season. The Tigers then hung on to beat SMU on a 56-yard field goal by Nolan Hauser as time expired to win the ACC and get the conference’s automatic berth into the CFP.
However, Clemson’s time in the postseason lasted just one game as the Tigers lost 38-24 to Texas in the first round to finish the season at 10-4. Three of Clemson’s four losses came to SEC teams.
Klubnik’s return will bolster an offense that also brings back WRs Antonio Williams, TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco. Those three players each had over 600 receiving yards and combined for 21 TD catches.
