Clemson QB Cade Klubnik will return in 2025

Clemson wants quarterback Cade Klubnik back for another season in 2025.

The Tigers’ starter announced Monday he will return for his senior season after Clemson won the ACC and reached the 2024 College Football Playoff.

Klubnik has been Clemson’s starter since taking over for DJ Uiagalelei in the Orange Bowl at the end of the 2022 season. Klubnik appeared in 10 games that season, but his performance against Tennessee made it clear that he was the Tigers’ QB of the future.

Klubnik made the jump in 2024 after a rock-solid first season under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. This season, Klubnik was 308-of-486 passing for 3,639 yards and threw 36 TDs to just six interceptions. He also rushed for seven touchdowns. Prior to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, Klubnik’s 43 total touchdowns rank behind only Miami’s Cam Ward and Washington State’s John Mateer’s 44 for the most in college football this season.

A season ago, Klubnik had just 23 total touchdowns as Clemson went 9-4 after winning the Gator Bowl. This season, the Tigers lost to both Georgia and South Carolina, but went 7-1 in ACC play to reach the conference title game after Miami lost to Syracuse on the final weekend of the regular season. The Tigers then held on to beat SMU on a 56-yard field goal by Nolan Hauser as time expired to win the ACC and earn the conference’s automatic berth in the CFP.

However, Clemson’s time in the postseason lasted only one game, as the Tigers lost 38–24 to Texas in the first round to finish the season 10–4. Three of Clemson’s four losses came to SEC teams.

Klubnik’s return will bolster an offense that also returns WRs Antonio Williams, TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco. Those three players each had over 600 receiving yards and a combined 21 TD catches.