Latest news with #Klubnik
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
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
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN on Cade Klubnik's strengths, weaknesses as a 2026 NFL draft prospect
ESPN on Cade Klubnik's strengths, weaknesses as a 2026 NFL draft prospect Cade Klubnik has plenty working in his favor heading into the 2025 season—and now, he'll have the full attention of NFL scouts watching to see what's next. After an up-and-down sophomore year, Klubnik took a major step forward in 2024 for Clemson. He finished the season with 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions, putting together one of the best single-season performances by a Clemson quarterback in recent memory. According to ESPN's Jordan Reid, 'Klubnik entered 2024 with question marks after a rough sophomore season but emerged as a star.' Reid praised Klubnik's polish and command in the pocket, writing that 'he's able to repeat his mechanics and keep his eyes, feet and throwing motion in sync while going through his progressions.' The Clemson quarterback delivered on the biggest stage too, saving his best performance for the first round of the College Football Playoff, where he threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns against Texas. That showing, along with a strong supporting cast—Clemson returns its top three receivers in 2025—led Reid to project Klubnik as the No. 1 overall pick in his Way Too Early 2026 mock draft. 'He should be set up for success in 2025,' Reid said. But NFL scouts aren't sold just yet. While Klubnik's accuracy, footwork, and decision-making have drawn praise, questions remain about his physical ceiling. 'Scouts around the league I've talked to have raised concerns about Klubnik's arm strength and whether he can build on his 2024 success,' Reid noted. 'Questions about his arm surface when he's forced to test tight windows in underneath coverage and with his inconsistent trajectory on deep passes,' Reid added. Klubnik averaged just 8.56 air yards per passing attempt last season, which ranked 58th in the FBS. 'He must be more assertive and willing to challenge coverage in intermediate and deep areas,' Reid said. Klubnik's development in 2025 will go a long way in determining whether he truly has the tools to become a top NFL quarterback—or if he still has something to prove at the next level. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cade Klubnik Shifts His Attention to $275 Million NFL QB After Studying Patrick Mahomes
Cade Klubnik Shifts His Attention to $275 Million NFL QB After Studying Patrick Mahomes originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes experienced varying levels of team success when they played college football, but there were few doubts that both quarterbacks were ticketed for NFL stardom from a young age. Advertisement Though Mahomes had a losing record in three years at Texas Tech, he threw for 5,052 yards and accounted for 53 total touchdowns in his final season as a Red Raider in 2016. On the other hand, Burrow was richly rewarded for his stellar two-year tenure at LSU. Upon transferring from Ohio State, Burrow led the Tigers to a 15-0 record and a national championship in 2019, throwing for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy. Burrow is now the Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback, a two-time Pro Bowler on a $275 million contract. The 28-year-old is lauded for his mechanics and his ability to make any throw -- he led the NFL in pass attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdown passes in 2024. Clemson star Cade Klubnik, who shares quarterback coach Jordan Palmer with Burrow is hoping to become the first Tiger ever to win the Heisman Trophy in 2025. And he has made it a point to study Burrow in an attempt to reach that objective. Advertisement "His ability to escape the pocket but remain a passer is something that I feel I can do pretty well," Klubnik told On3. "A lot of the same fundamentals that Jordan teaches us, (Burrow) does it very, very elite. I love to watch somebody who's better than me." Klubnik also admitted to studying Mahomes and his calm, steady pocket presence, and he also had a surprise for reporters when he said he had been watching Bailey Zappe's 2021 season at Western Kentucky. Zappe, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, threw for an FBS record 5,967 yards and 62 touchdowns in his one season as a Hilltopper. "Last year, I studied senior year of Bailey Zappe, because he he had a great year. I wanted to improve my presence in the pocket, anticipation and just delivery. So I studied him," Klubnik explained. "I studied just the calmness and coolness of Patrick Mahomes in the pocket. So (I studied) those two guys, because that's something we want to get better at." Klubnik, touted as a possible top overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is hoping that absorbing different qualities from elite quarterbacks will make him even better following his breakout 2024 season. If his bet pays off, Clemson could be celebrating more than just another College Football Playoff berth in 2025. Advertisement Related: Dabo Swinney Flaunts Clemson Achievements Amid Changing College Football Landscape This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LSU's Garrett Nussmeier vs. Clemson's Cade Klubnik: Which QB has the advantage in week one
LSU's Garrett Nussmeier vs. Clemson's Cade Klubnik: Which QB has the advantage in week one Two Heisman trophy hopefuls in LSU football's Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson's Cade Klubnik face off during week one of the 2025 college football season. The pair of quarterbacks lead teams with College Football Playoff aspirations. Nussmeier returned for his second season as the starter while Klubnik enters his third. He led Clemson to an ACC Championship and a College Football Playoff berth. The last time LSU and Clemson faced off, two future No. 1 picks in Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence squared off in the 2019 National Championship. While the stakes won't be as high, this game has title race implications. We could see a shootout as two of the best passers in the sport go head-to-head. Nussmeier, who needs 3,343 yards to become the program's all-time leading passer, gained new offensive weapons in wide receiver transfers Barion Brown and Nic Anderson out of the transfer portal. Trusty weapons in Aaron Anderson and Chris Hilton Jr. also make their returns. Klubnik will have no shortage of weapons either as the Clemson wide receiver room is one of the most talented in the sport. Here's how Nussmeier and Klubnik have stacked up so far. Career Stats Comparison Nussmeier: 62.6% completion percentage, 5,772 yards, 7.8 yards per attempt, 40 touchdowns, 19 interceptions Klubnik: 63.4% completion percentage, 7,180 yards, 6.9 yards per attempt, 57 touchdowns, 18 interceptions With two full years as a starter, Klubnik's career numbers stand out as he enters his senior year. Nussmeier played for two seasons under Heisman winner Jayden Daniels and brings four years of collegiate experience into his fifth season with the Tigers. Nussmeier's average yards per attempt of 7.8 is nearly an entire yard better than Klubnik's mark at 6.9. 2024 Stats comparison Nussmeier: 64.2% completion percentage, 4,052 yards, 7.7 yards per attempt, 29 touchdowns, 12 interceptions Klubnik: 63.4% completion percentage, 3,639 yards, 7.5 yards per attempt, 36 touchdowns, 6 interceptions In their most recent seasons, Nussmeier performed well against SEC juggernauts week after week. While Clemson won the ACC crown, its strength of schedule pales in comparison to LSU's. But that's no reason to understate Klubnik's talent. His touchdown-to-interception ratio showcases his ability to make accurate throws in critical situations. PFF and QBR Nussmeier: 81.3 PFF pass grade, 79 QBR Klubnik: 87.7 PFF pass grade, 78.9 QBR PFF's passing grade and ESPN's are among the most proven ways to evaluate college quarterbacks. Both numbers do a good job at capturing the value a passer provides to their team. PFF gave Klubnik the advantage last year while Nussmeier had a slight edge in QBR.
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Cade Klubnik Named Heisman Favorite But History Says He Won't Win
Cade Klubnik enters his senior year as one of the most talked-about players in college football. With national analysts like Joel Klatt naming him the No. 1 quarterback in the country and ESPN's Chris Low calling him the early Heisman favorite, expectations are sky-high. Klubnik, now a polished veteran under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, is coming off a strong campaign and is projected by some outlets as the potential No. 1 overall pick in next year's NFL Draft. And yet, history suggests it may not matter. Clemson has been in this position before. Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence-two of the most iconic quarterbacks in school history-both led the Tigers to national championship glory. Both were Heisman finalists. Neither won the award. Watson finished second in 2016 behind Lamar Jackson, and Lawrence was the runner-up in 2020, finishing behind Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Even with 222 first-place votes and over 1,100 total points, Lawrence couldn't secure the trophy, despite being arguably the most complete quarterback prospect in the modern era. If neither of those generational talents could break through the Heisman ceiling, Klubnik faces an uphill battle regardless of how good Clemson looks this fall. That's especially true in today's landscape, where offseason hype is as loud as ever. Coming out of spring, the buzz around Clemson is building. The Tigers are loaded with talent, especially at wide receiver-many believe this is the deepest and most skilled receiver room in the country. The offensive line has improved. Klubnik has grown each year under Riley's system. On paper, the pieces are there. But this is also the season of speculation, where media noise can turn into "rat poison," as some coaches like to call it. We're in that awkward stretch between spring football and fall camp when national narratives start to form, often well before teams have truly shown who they are. It's easy to crown a favorite in May. It's much harder to live up to that billing come October and November. Clemson is equipping itself to make a serious run, but there are still questions to answer-about the run game, defensive depth, and how Klubnik handles the pressure of expectation. Until the Tigers hit the field in the fall, we won't truly know how good they are or how realistic Klubnik's Heisman chances really are. For now, Klubnik's name is rightfully in the conversation. But if Clemson's past is any indication, it may take more than excellence-and even more than a national title-for the Heisman to finally find its way to Death Valley. Related: Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry Called 'Laughably One-Sided' by National Outlet Related: Clemson Surging in Battle With Georgia, Ohio State for Elite 2026 LB Related: Cam Cannarella's ACC Tournament Performance Could Boost 2025 MLB Draft Stock Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
