Clemson QB Cade Klubnik on returning home, friendship with Quinn Ewers, former high school teammates

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is set for a return to Austin this Saturday, where he will face off against Quinn Ewers and the Texas Longhorns. The game carries extra weight for Klubnik, who grew up in the Austin area and will be squaring off against several familiar faces, including four of his former high school teammates.

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For Klubnik, the opportunity to play in front of a hometown crowd is exciting. “Obviously I’ve had quite a few people reach out to me in the last week and a half,” Klubnik said. “I think like last Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, I just kind of embraced it and just kind of got to sit there and enjoy the feeling of, ‘Hey, I’m getting to go home.’ You know, the guys I’m getting to be playing, the people that are going to be there, and just kind of enjoyed that for one or two days.”

However, Klubnik has been quick to refocus on what matters most. “After that, I really just kind of set my mind at the task at hand,” he continued. “It’s one thing to kind of know where you’re going to be playing, but at the end of the day, the ball’s going to get set, and you gotta go focus on the job right in front of you. I kind of enjoyed it for a little bit then locked in on the people we’re playing and really just focused on the team that we’re playing.”

Familiar Rivalry with Quinn Ewers

Saturday’s matchup will also reunite Klubnik with Quinn Ewers, another highly touted Texas quarterback with whom he shares a history.

“Quinn and I go way back,” Klubnik said. “We played each other in 7th or 8th grade in 7-on-7 and stuff. Then met my junior year in the state championship game. It was definitely a very high-profile game. My head coach was the father of Quinn’s head coach, they called it the Dodge Bowl. Then you know Quinn and I playing against each other. It was a really cool deal. It was really fun to experience that.”

Their relationship has continued to grow since those early battles. “We saw each other at Elite 11. That was really the first time we got to spend a lot of time together. Then spent some more time this summer at Manning Passing Academy. We definitely got a great relationship. Got to know Arch [Manning] a lot this summer; great guy. Love both those dudes, they’re both just great guys that love ball, and they’re going to have great careers. Excited to see them on Saturday for sure.”

Facing Former Teammates

Adding another layer to the stakes, Klubnik will also be lining up against several of his former Westlake High School teammates who now play for Texas. These include safety Second-Team AP All-American Michael Taaffe, defensive ends Ethan Burke and Colton Vasek, offensive lineman Connor Robertson, and receiver Bryce Chambers.

“Obviously Michael Taaffe, 16 their safety, been playing with him since I was third or fourth grade. Maybe he was on the first football team I was ever on. Then played in a couple state championships together, so definitely excited. I texted him earlier last weekend, ‘This is going to be cool,’” Klubnik shared.

He’s equally thrilled to face Ethan Burke and Colton Vasek, both defensive ends who were pivotal to Westlake’s success during his senior year. “Got both of them on there. Ethan’s playing a lot. And then Connor Robertson, offensive lineman, he was my, I want to say right guard at Westlake. He’s there. And then Bryce Chambers, a receiver for them. I might be missing one, but I’m pretty sure that’s it.”

A Special Homecoming

Despite the personal connections and the familiarity of returning to Austin, Klubnik remains laser-focused on leading Clemson to a victory. “Once I get there, it’ll definitely be a little wild flying into that airport and making that drive. It’ll be cool,” Klubnik admitted. But he knows the importance of staying in the moment: “At the end of the day, the ball’s going to get set, and you gotta go focus on the job right in front of you.”

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The showdown between Clemson and Texas will not only be a clash of two top-tier programs but also a personal and emotional milestone for Klubnik. With his deep ties to Austin and longstanding relationships with Ewers and several Longhorns players, Saturday’s game promises to be an unforgettable homecoming for the young quarterback.