Cade Klubnik sets firm goals for final year at Clemson

Cade Klubnik brought Clemson to the College Football Playoff in 2024, but the star quarterback recognizes the ceiling is much, much higher than that for the Tigers.

He could’ve declared for the NFL Draft after season ended, with a quarterback class filled with question marks, but Klubnik graciously decided to return to the program for one final run. Speaking with ESPN’s Field Yates, the Clemson quarterback set some firm goals for his last ride in college football, and it’s going to fire up Tigers fans everywhere.

“I think that, more than anything, I kind of just want to leave my mark,” Klubnik said, via the Field Talk Podcast. “I want to leave Clemson better than I found it. It’s a tough place to do that, because of how amazing it is here. But I want to hopefully leave an impact on, you know, my teammates and coaches around me, that through the good and the bad, I never changed. Hopefully, they can take something from that, that my foundation and Jesus never changed. Hopefully that has an impact on them. Whether it’s this year or five years from now, they can look back on how I live my life.

“I would also say, you know, I want to go be a great leader, and go lead these guys in a really special way. But at the end of the day, you know I want to go have a great year, next year, and go win a national championship.”

All told, Klubnik’s goals are more than attainable in 2025. In his second year under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, Klubnik took a leap forward.

He threw for 3,649 yards and 36 touchdowns – an impressive bounce-back from an up-and-down 2023 season. He also generated some Heisman Trophy buzz at one point during the season.

Klubnik’s performance helped Clemson to a 10-4 overall record and a victory over SMU in the ACC Championship. The Tigers then took on Texas in the College Football Playoff, where they lost to the Longhorns, 38-24.

In that season-ending loss, Cade Klubnik threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney noted that performance against a Texas defense that ranked among the best in the nation.

If Cade Klubnik can continue his ascension, there’s no telling how far he can take Clemson next season. He’s extremely motivated to end his career with the Tigers on a high note, and he certainly has the faith of his teammates heading into another season.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.