NFL Draft expert Todd McShay likes Cade Klubnik's game, gives an NFL player comp
NFL Draft expert Todd McShay likes Cade Klubnik's game, gives an NFL player comp
Former ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay had high praise for Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik this week, offering a notable NFL comparison as Klubnik prepares for his senior season.
On The McShay Show, McShay said Klubnik reminds him of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, noting similarities in their feel for chaos and improvisation.
'I see a lot of Bo Nix in this kid,' McShay said. 'He's great when the play breaks down — climbing the pocket, sidestepping pressure. It's almost soothing for him. He also has that elastic arm. The ball comes out with more energy than you expect.'
McShay said he underestimated Nix during his time at Auburn but came to appreciate his development at Oregon. He now sees those same traits in Klubnik — mobility, size, arm flexibility, and poise under pressure — though he made clear that the comparison was about style, not necessarily ceiling.
Klubnik enters the 2025 season as a potential first-round pick and legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. In 2024, he threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions, while rushing for 463 yards and seven more scores. He was one of only two FBS quarterbacks to throw for over 3,500 yards and rush for more than 400. His 43 total touchdowns were second most in the country.
In McShay's Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft, he projected Klubnik to the Cleveland Browns at No. 5 overall, calling Clemson's roster 'possibly the most talented Dabo Swinney has had in a decade.'
Stephen Muench, McShay's co-host, offered a different comp: veteran NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford.
'I think both Stafford and Klubnik are very tough, very smart,' Muench said. 'He makes confident throws, gets to his third read. That's what you want to see in a next-level guy.'
With both arm talent and experience, Klubnik will be a quarterback to watch closely this fall as NFL scouts continue to evaluate one of college football's most intriguing prospects.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
The case for the WNBA extending its season into NFL territory
The case for the WNBA extending its season into NFL territory What we're all watching this summer is technically the longest WNBA season ever. All 13 teams across the league will play 44 games over 118 days, from May 16 to September 11. When it's all said and done, this will be the most games ever played in a WNBA season. As a fan, I'm thankful on one hand. The more WNBA the better. On the other, this new schedule already seems to be posing a problem for players around the league, and the season isn't even quite a month old yet. Players expressed their concerns about the schedule in an article from Front Office Sports' Annie Costabile. The crux of it is this: The WNBA's schedule has increased the number of games played over four years, from 32 in 2021 to 44 in 2025. While the league has added more games, it hasn't added the requisite amount of time in between these games for proper rest and recovery for its players. That packed schedule has resulted in stints where players are playing four games in six nights or, like in the Phoenix Mercury's case, nine games in 18 days. That's grueling and, really, unnecessary. That packed schedule is only going to get worse. The WNBA is adding two more teams next season, in the Toronto Tempo and the Portland expansion team. We're probably looking at another few games added to the schedule with those two teams coming. If that happens, an expansion on the season is desperately needed. The only argument against the expansion is that the WNBA will be encroaching deep into NFL territory, which is something essentially every league is afraid of these days. The NFL is a ratings monster. Go up against a football game — especially during primetime — and your audience is probably going to get cannibalized. It could also run up against the NBA, which could be a source of internal strife among the two organizations. MLB will also be playing the World Series around this time. However, I'd argue that these are not things the WNBA should be concerned with at this point. As far as TV ratings go, the WNBA should be confident enough at this point to believe it can hold its own against any other league it might run up against. And, yes, that includes the NFL. The W's most popular players are drawing nearly 3 million viewers to regular-season games at this point. You could argue that's a bit anomalous because it's Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and people will watch every time they play. But when games are being played that late in the season in September and October, we're either talking about late regular-season matchups that have significance for playoff seeding or we're talking about playoffs outright. People will be drawn to these games. But, honestly, the ratings conversation doesn't even really matter here. We've said it once before and we'll say it again: The WNBA has already signed the biggest TV deal in the league's history. That deal is locked in for the next decade. Ratings no longer matter in conversations about this league. They won't until it's time to lock in the next deal, and once we arrive there, the league will likely be light years ahead of where it is today. In the end, ratings shouldn't take precedence over player health. We're only a few weeks into the season and we've already seen so many players suffer from soft tissue injuries that you can't help but feel like they could've been avoided if not for so much wear and tear on the talent. If extending the WNBA's calendar out another month or so can alleviate some of that, then so be it. The league should do it, no matter what the NFL, NBA, or anyone else thinks. Bennedict Mathurin becomes Michael Jordan The Indiana Pacers are two wins away from winning an NBA championship and pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the league's history and it's all thanks to Bennedict Mathurin, who was the hero of Game 3 for Indy. The dude scored 27 points in 22 minutes, which is bonkers. But it gets even more bonkers when you see the conversation he just entered. Mathurin is only 22 years old. Here's the list of dudes who've scored at least 25 points in the NBA Finals at 22 or younger: There are a bunch of Hall of Famers on that list and then there's Mathurin, who is still charting his course. I have no idea where things go from here for the Pacers' forward, but that's a pretty good list to be on. Byron Buxton to the moon I don't even know what to say about Byron Buxton's 479-foot homer against the Rangers. The Twins' broadcast team didn't, either. All they could do was laugh. Here's Cory Woodroof on the moonshot: "It's one of the longest home runs of the 2025 MLB season, and it's one that left the Twins television broadcast in stitches over just how dominant it really was. I mean, he sent that baseball into another time zone. You don't often see an MLB player hammer a homer like this, but Buxton slammed this baseball in stride. You know you've done well when all your team's broadcast team can do is laugh at how great of a home run it was." Look at this thing. It truly is comical. Insane. Quick hits: A new consensus mock ... The Knicks get rejected again ... and more — Here's Bryan Kalbrosky with a new consensus NBA mock draft for you. Can't believe it's almost draft season. — The Knicks really need to go find a head coach who doesn't already have a team, man. Charles Curtis has more on their latest rejections. — Our Meg Hall had a nice chat with Sha'Carri Richardson! Y'all know you need to click this one. — A dentist is playing in the US Open. No, seriously. Charles Curtis has five facts you need to know about him. — Charles Barkley roasted the Knicks' coaching search. Absolutely love this. — Here's Robert Zeglinski on Kyle Shanahan being annoyed with how fans overreact to NFL practices. This is brilliant. That's a wrap, folks. Thanks for reading. Peace. -Sykes ✌️ This is For The Win's daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here.
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Spartans featured on popular Cover 3 podcast's 'Summer School' series
AI-assisted summary Michigan State football's 2025 season hinges on achieving bowl game eligibility. A six-win season is the minimum expectation for success, according to analyst Stephen Brooks. Offensive improvements are anticipated, particularly in the wide receiver group, bolstered by transfer portal additions. Defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren's development is key to the Spartans' defensive performance. The secondary is projected as a team strength due to returning veterans and transfer portal acquisitions. Can Michigan State football get back to a bowl game in 2025? That is something that was stressed during a recent Cover 3 podcast "Summer School" episode centered around the Spartans. Considered one of the best college football national podcasts, Cover 3 annually does a "Summer School" series that provides in-depth previews of teams across the country. The series -- hosted by Bud Elliott -- posted its Michigan State episode this week, with Stephen Brooks of Spartan Tailgate breaking down the Spartans. Brooks has been a guest on the series for a few years now, and in his previous visits was essentially spot on in predicting the Spartans' struggles. So what did Brooks have to say about Michigan State and their chances of reaching a bowl game this season? Check out the highlights and complete video from Brooks and Elliott's conversation on Michigan State football as they look ahead to the 2025 season. Highlights Brooks talked about the importance of getting back to a bowl game for Michigan State in 2025 Brooks felt the minimum for a successful season at Michigan State would be winning six games Brooks pointed to the offense possessing the potential to be much-improved in 2025, especially the wide receivers -- which included some nice transfer portal additions this offseason Brooks thinks defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren could really elevate the Spartans should he hit his ceiling this year Brooks believes the Spartans secondary should be a strength with a good mix of veteran leadership returning and new additions via the transfer portal Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle Full Video Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Newsweek
41 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Packers' Jordan Love Has Strong Reaction to Jaire Alexander Decision
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Green Bay Packers have one goal entering the 2025 NFL season, which is to win a Super Bowl. However, they will have to do that without one of their longtime stars. Jaire Alexander had been mentioned in a lot of rumors throughout the course of the offseason. Following the 2025 NFL Draft, it appeared that he had a pretty good chance of sticking with the Packers for at least one more year. However, on June 9, the team made the decision to release him and move on in a different direction. Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers warms up before a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on August 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers warms up before a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on August 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Photo bySince he was drafted with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Alexander has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Unfortunately, he has dealt with injuries over the last couple of years that have completely derailed his career. Read more: Packers Connected to Former Vikings Star To Replace Jaire Alexander In each of the last two seasons, Alexander was only able to play in seven games. That is what led to Green Bay's decision to move on. Following the news of the Packers release Alexander, franchise quarterback Jordan Love spoke out with a strong reaction. He was clearly sad to see his teammate go. "It's a tough one, it's really tough losing a player of Jaire's caliber," Love said. "Someone that has been here since I got here, someone I was very close with. It's definitely tough. That's how the NFL goes. Tough decisions that are made, and it's all about how we move on and grow from that." With the decision now made to release the 28-year-old star cornerback, Alexander will finish his Green Bay career with 78 games played, 287 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 12 interceptions, a defensive touchdown, and 70 defended passes. Read more: Packers Insider Hints at Blockbuster Trade After Jaire Alexander Move Those numbers show just how big of an impact he made. Now, the question remains, can the Packers replace that level of play? During the offseason, the team did sign Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal. He's a good player, but he's nowhere close to the level that Alexander has played at. Could Green Bay consider making another move to bring in additional cornerback help? It will be interesting to see what the team chooses to do. The Packers will not have Alexander on the roster, which could come back to haunt them depending on which team he chooses to sign with. For more Green Bay Packers and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
