CLEMSON — Clemson football quarterback Cade Klubnik watched his No. 1 receiver Antonio Williams jog down the Hill on Nov. 22.
Then, it was his turn.
The sun began to set as Clemson senior day honorees were being recognized before the Furman game. Klubnik heard his major, hometown, jersey number and name over Memorial Stadium's speakers.
He patted Howard Rock's twice, touched his chest near his heart and pointed to the sky, then walked down the Hill for the final time as he held back the emotions.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I still remember the first time that I just took that second right turn and peek over the side of the stadium and just seeing a sea of orange my freshman year and that feeling never really gets old," Klubnik said after Clemson's 45-10 win. "It's like every time, it just blows your mind away."
Klubnik received a standing ovation from Clemson fans in the second quarter that moved him to tears. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said the ovation wasn't planned, but it worked perfectly with the team's intention to get all four quarterbacks into the game.
"He's been a warrior for us. I mean, he really has and a cool moment for him," Swinney said.
Klubnik's final regular-season game is Nov. 29 (noon ET, SEC Network) when Clemson (6-5) faces rival South Carolina (4-7) at Williams-Brice Stadium.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementClemson fans hoped Cade Klubnik was DeShaun Watson or Trevor Lawrence
Attending Clemson was Klubnik's dream despite growing up in Austin, Texas. The Tigers initially pursued now-Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson but saved Klubnik as a backup option. When Simpson committed to the Crimson Tide, it was a done deal between Klubnik and Clemson.
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"(I) saw it as a out-of-reach offer, and whenever I did end up getting the offer, I committed on the spot, and I knew that God had a great plan for the next few years and he has been so good over the last few years," said Klubnik, who committed in March 2021.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementClemson fans hoped Klubnik, a five-star recruit, would have immediate success as a full-time starter like Deshaun Watson (2014-16) and Trevor Lawrence (2018-20).
Klubnik was on a similar trajectory when he replaced starter DJ Uiagalelei throughout games in 2022 to lead Clemson to victories, including in the ACC championship. He became the starter in the Orange Bowl.
Dabo Swinney stuck by Cade Klubnik when Clemson fans wanted a change
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) poses with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney before kickoff with Furman University at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC, Saturday, November 22, 2025.Watson and Lawrence became starters in their freshman seasons after a few games, then eventually led Clemson to national championship wins and multiple ACC championships.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYet, Klubnik's career hasn't gone like Watson and Lawrence's. The Tigers won two ACC titles but only made the CFP with Klubnik because it expanded to 12 teams in 2024. The Tigers missed in 2023 and will not make it in 2025.
He also became the only starting quarterback in Swinney's 17 full seasons who has lost at least four games in multiple seasons.
Fans called for Swinney to bench Klubnik or find another option in the transfer portal when Clemson had a 4-4 record in 2023. Klubnik made costly turnovers in key situations, including when a fumble turned into a score against Florida State. Swinney didn't budge though, instilling confidence into his quarterback.
Clemson's offense blossomed in 2024, averaging 34.7 points to win the ACC and make the CFP for the first time since 2020.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Being able to see him grow up throughout his college experiences just the ups and downs, people not wanting him here then loving him, he's just been unwavering with his consistency," Clemson running back Adam Randall said.
Still, criticism came toward Klubnik, who entered 2025 as a Heisman contender and projected first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Tigers started this season 1-3, which dashed their CFP hopes. Clemson's start was disappointing as the Tigers returned the most production of any Division I program.
Where Cade Klubnik ranks among Dabo Swinney quarterbacks
As Clemson's full-time coach, Swinney has had eight starting quarterbacks: Kyle Parker, Tajh Boyd, Cole Stoudt, Watson, Kelly Bryant, Lawrence, Uiagalelei and Klubnik.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKlubnik is fourth all-time in passing touchdowns in Clemson history, needing two more to become the fourth player in school history to throw 75. He would join Boyd (107), Watson (90) and Lawrence (90),
Klubnik is fifth all-time in Clemson history in passing yards, needing 4 to pass Charlie Whitehurst (9,665). Klubnik is also 338 yards away from joining Boyd, Watson and Lawrence as the only players in Clemson history to throw for 10,000 career passing yards.
Klubnik is also the sixth Clemson quarterback since World War II to win 25 career games as a starter, joining Lawrence (34), Watson (32), Boyd (32), Rodney Williams (32) and Whitehurst (25).
Klubnik was critical for Clemson to return to the CFP but couldn't lead the Tigers to glory like Watson and Lawrence. Klubnik falls short of Watson and Lawrence among Swinney's quarterbacks as that duo reached two national championship games and won one.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKlubnik's Clemson legacy will reside in the same tier as Boyd, who helped the Tigers win the Orange Bowl for Swinney's first major bowl-game victory.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney's Clemson football quarterbacks: Ranking Cade Klubnik
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