Cade Klubnik’s shaky feat during Clemson’s season opener against Georgia on September 1, 2024, is still fresh in the Tigers fans’ memory. The quarterback struggled with his footwork. Gradually, however, Klubnik was able to erase all the doubts that the program held about him. As the season progressed, Klubnik was emerging as one of the best players at his position in the country. It’s still a long way to go for the 2025 season to lift its curtains. But so what? An ex-NFL Pro has some strong vision for the QB, and this comes after Klubnik failed to woo his head coach Dabo Swinney.

Taking you back to Swinney’s program’s season opener. Klubnik could only complete 15 of 31 passes for 255 yards. And what about touchdowns? Zero. Quite naturally he became the easy target of the analysts. But he soon worked on himself to change the public notion of him. In week 2, in Clemson’s face-off against Appalachian State, Klubnik came up with 5 touchdowns. Followed by 3 TDs against North Carolina State, and 4 against Stanford. Last season, he came up with a 63.4% completion rate, 3639 total yards and 36 touchdowns. Now that’s some real glow-up for him. Back in 2023, his total touchdown was 19 with 2844 total yards. Now, the former Cleveland Browns star Gerald V Dixon is already head over heels for Swinney’s QB.

On the 247Sports show, the co-host came up with a question for Dixon. “Cade Klubnik is coming in with high expectations this season. Could we see him break the record for single season passing TDs in the ACC?” The record is held by former Pittsburgh Panthers QB Kenny Pickett who broke the school’s single-season record for passing touchdowns with 42. Now what does Dixon believe? When it’s Klubnik, the ex-NFL Pro has absolutely zero doubts. “I think he [Klubnik] shatters it. He is getting back his skill position… From almost getting ran out of town. From the year playing well to this year now.”

Looking back at some of the Tigers’ top offenses in history, it wasn’t that surprising to see the best season coming under Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson, and Trevor Lawrence. Klubnik was just shy of Watson’s all-time record, 41, last season. Dixon continued, “Our captain’s here, our leader’s here, our receivers’ are back, tight ends’ back, the offensive line back. Third year here as the same signal-caller, calling the same plays here. He gonna line up the scoreboard.”  The returning wide receivers include the trio- Bryant Wesco Jr., Antonio Williams, and T.J. Moore. At the end the co-host, just to reconfirm, asked, “So more than 42 touchdowns for Cade Klubnik in 2025?” “50, we have seen it before… 50 and a Heisman,” Dixon confidently predicted Klubnik’s future.

But how confident is HC Swinney about his signal-caller?             

Dabo Swinney gets hit up with a harsh reality from Cade Klubnik

The Tigers held their first full scrimmage of the spring on March 12 at Memorial Stadium. Naturally, Swinney had heavy expectations as the 2025 season marks his QB’s third and final year. But maybe the HC was hoping a lot. He ended up upset – as Klubnik didn’t throw at Clemson’s Pro Day last season after he had a rough 2023. However, after he blossomed in 2024, he was believed to be raging the gridiron at the Pro Day. 

But poor Klubnik! He had two miscues. He underthrew Jake Briningstool while scrambling to the right on a pass and overthrew his former tight end on a 40-yard pass to the left end zone. Swinney chose to break the silence then: “I did not think Cade had a good day today. I thought he was very average, I think he was checked out.” Per reports, Klubnik had a rather limited playing time since backup QB Christopher Vizzina was more in focus, practicing with the starting unit.

Meanwhile, according to the HC, Cade Klubnik’s mind was already on vacation. “I think he was already gone to Cabo or something. I do not think he was ready to go today and maybe it is because he did think he was going to get a lot of reps. So, I did not think he had his best day. He was not very focused.” The right moment for Vizzina to attract all the spotlight. However, there was a moment when Cade Klubnik did impress the NFL scouts. That one throw, a 60-yard dime to tight end Jake Briningstool. The quarterback ran a play-action, faking the hand-off before dropping it into the path of his TE with ease. Truly amazing! So Klubnik is not predictable and shows sparks of greatness. It’d be now interesting to see if Dabo Swinney can wrap up his final chapter with a touchdown record and the bronze trophy in hand.