Cade Klubnik Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Jacob Kupferman/AP Photo)

School: Clemson

Class: Senior

Position: QB

HT: 6’2

WT: 210 lbs

Background: Cade Klubnik was a consensus 5-star quarterback out of Austin Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. Klubnik was a top 10 player and top 3 quarterback in the 2022 class. Cade’s older brother, Reed, was a wide receiver at Yale before Cade stepped on the scene. Cade won just about every accolade possible in high school. He was named USA Today’s Offensive Player of the Year twice and was the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. He was one of the greatest Texas high school football players ever, leading Austin Westlake to 3 state titles during his time there. After his senior season, Klubnik was chosen to play in the All-American Bowl. Cade Klubnik committed to Clemson over programs such as Texas A&M, Michigan, Penn State, and others.

College: During his time at Clemson, Cade has been named an Academic All-ACC selection three times. He was a backup as a freshman in 2022 before stepping into the starting role for the Tigers in 2023. In his debut season as the starter, Klubnik threw for 19 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He came back in 2024 and took a step forward to lead Clemson to a CFP appearance. He compiled a total of 43 touchdowns that season. He passed for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions. Klubnik was looked at to take over as his class’s cream of the crop in the 2025 season, but it did not turn out that way. Klubnik and the Tigers struggled mightily. He threw for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions on the season.

Strengths: Cade Klubnik has a lively arm that combines everything you want from a pocket passer. He shows off the ball placement, touch, and arm strength as well as anyone in the class. He is able to drop the ball in a bucket on those go routes in the deep areas of a field. Klubnik layers the ball just over the defender’s reach and only where his receiver can make a play. He has also gotten a better feel for the pocket as his career has gone on. He slows the game down and senses pressure around him, often stepping up to evade pressure and make a big throw. Klubnik also uses his legs well to take defenses out of structure. He can improvise on the run and make defenses pay by scrambling to the right and making a throw out of that structure. He is also a good runner who can pick up chunks of yardage at a time with his legs and uses his frame to fall forward consistently.

Weaknesses: While he has all the physical attributes that an NFL team seeks out in a quarterback, his processing and decision-making are significantly lacking. He often forces throws into windows that are either too tight or nonexistent. He has put too many footballs into double coverage and into general danger. He also does not test the deep areas of the field enough to concern defenses. Too often, he just hits his checkdown or his quick read. While it is not a bad thing to take what the defense gives you, if you don’t make a secondary honest, they start to key in on the quick game, especially at the next level.

Conclusion: Cade Klubnik is a physical specimen and has experienced some level of success at every level. He didn’t hit the highs at Clemson that were expected of him coming out of high school, but there is still a serviceable quarterback in there somewhere.

Best Team Fits: DET, TB, KC

Player Comparison: Ian Book

Player Grade: Round 5 (58.6)