Cade Klubnik 2026 NFL Draft: scouting report for Clemson, QB

Just how high should Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik rank in the 2026 NFL Draft class?

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer

Feb 21, 2026 8:31 PM EST

Dec 27, 2025; Bronx, NY, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) throws the ball during the first half of the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Height: 6-2

Weight: 207

Year: Senior

Pro Comparison: Kyle Allen

2026 NFL Combine Results

Cade Klubnik, Clemson, QB

Broad Jump: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Hand Size: N/A
Arm Length: N/A
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Vertical Leap: N/A

Pros of Cade Klubnik

Klubnik possesses an extremely quick and effortless release with very little wasted motion
He has legitimate explosiveness and speed as a runner, giving him upside as both an extender in the passing game and in the designed quarterback run game
As a pocket passer, Klubnik plays with tremendous toughness and will stick in there against even the highest level of pressure
The pocket mobility that Klubnik brings to the table is notable, allowing him to navigate inside the pocket and break tackles to extend plays
Has started 40 games in his career; brings a ton of experience, while showing the ability to bounce back from tough situations
Klubnik has good overall arm talent, which has allowed him to put several impressive bucket throws on film to the intermediate and deep levels of the field

Cons of Cade Klubnik

Has too many bozo moments on film; he puts the football in harm’s way for turnover-worthy plays
He had a down year in 2025 after having big expectations in the preseason; he was never able to take that final big step as a player
As a processor, Klubnik is extremely inconsistent, struggling mightily to get to his full progressions, while getting stuck too often in his process
Possesses a very thin frame, which should raise some questions about his ability to hold up against the physical demands on the NFL level

Background

Klubnik was considered to be a five-star player in the 2022 recruiting class. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Klubnik finished up rated as the No. 6 overall player, the No. 1 quarterback, and the No. 1 player from the state of Texas for the 2022 class. Clemson was able to win out for the former Austin (Texas) Westlake star over other offers from Georgia, Texas, LSU, Florida, Michigan, Penn State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Miami, Florida State, Auburn, Washington, Nebraska, Missouri, TCU, Utah, Colorado, Arkansas, Arizona State, Michigan State, Arizona, Baylor, Virginia, Virginia Tech, UNC, NC State, Mississippi State, SMU, and Washington State, among others.

After serving as a backup quarterback during his freshman year in 2022, Klubnik was the starter for Clemson each of the last three seasons. During that stretch, Klubnik managed to throw for 10,123 yards and 73 touchdowns. He also added another 878 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground as a runner, as well as completing 64 percent of his passes and throwing 24 interceptions. Klubnik was selected as a second-team All-ACC selection in 2024 after throwing for a career high 36 touchdown passes. He ended his Clemson career as the program’s record holder in completions (916) and pass attempts (1,432).

Klubnik was coached by head coach Todd Dodge at Westlake High School in Texas, the same program that produced Drew Brees and Nick Foles. He earned his degree in marketing in December of 2025. His brother, Reed, played wide receiver at Yale. Klubnik was born on October 10, 2003, and he will begin his first NFL season at just 22 years old.

Player Evaluation

Once considered a five-star recruit, Klubnik clearly has some intriguing physical tools to get excited about. Klubnik possesses an extremely quick and effortless release, with very little wasted motion. The ball tends to get out of his hands quickly. He has legitimate explosiveness and speed as a runner, giving him upside as both an extender in the passing game and in the designed quarterback run game. As a pocket passer, Klubnik plays with tremendous toughness and will stick in there against even the highest level of pressure. The pocket mobility that Klubnik brings to the table is notable, allowing him to navigate inside the pocket and break tackles to extend plays when needed. He has started 40 games in his career. Klubnik brings a ton of experience to the table, while showing the ability to bounce back from tough situations. He has good overall arm talent, which has allowed him to put several impressive bucket throws on film to the intermediate and deep levels of the field.

While Klubnik has had some impressive moments during his career, he still has too many bozo moments on film. He puts the football in harm’s way for turnover-worthy plays frequently, and some have come in critical moments. Klubnik had a down year in 2025 after having big expectations in the preseason. He was never able to take that final big step as a player. As a processor, Klubnik is extremely inconsistent, struggling mightily to get to his full progressions, while getting stuck too often in his process. He also possesses a very thin frame, which should raise some questions about his ability to hold up against the physical demands on the NFL level.

It wasn’t long ago that many believed Klubnik could eventually develop into a top draft pick. The 2025 season was a huge letdown, creating even more uncertainty for his overall evaluation. At this point, Klubnik doesn’t look like a player who will ever become a starter on the NFL level. His combination of arm talent, athleticism, and experience, however, could provide him a chance to stick as a backup.