There aren’t many teams in college football heading into the 2025 season with more hype than the Clemson Tigers.
After finishing 10–4, reclaiming ACC supremacy and earning a College Football Playoff berth, Clemson is now in a prime spot to do even more this fall. Much of that optimism centers around longtime head coach Dabo Swinney and his star quarterback Cade Klubnik.
Klubnik enters the season as a strong Heisman Trophy contender after guiding Clemson back into the national spotlight. He threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions last season, while also adding 463 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.
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The junior signal-caller recently said he's modeling his game after NFL stars Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes. But NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah sees a different comparison emerging — one tied to another former first-round pick.
"I spent a lot of time combing through old reports to find a comp for Klubnik," Jeremiah wrote. "I couldn't find one that stood out as an ideal match, but his notes read similar to the ones I made for Ryan Tannehill when he was coming out of Texas A&M. Obviously, Tannehill is much bigger, and I thought his arm strength was better than Klubnik's is at this point in time. However, both guys are very athletic, possessing ideal quickness and the ability to create plays. They both throw with touch and timing and excel on loft passes down the field. Tannehill carved out a solid, decade-plus career, making the Pro Bowl in 2019. Klubnik has areas where he needs to continue to improve, but he has the upside to follow a similar NFL path."
Tannehill was selected No. 8 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2012 NFL Draft. A one-time Pro Bowler and 2019 Comeback Player of the Year, he spent six seasons in Miami before finishing his career with five seasons in Tennessee. While technically still a free agent, Tannehill hasn’t played since 2023. His career record stands at 81–70 with a 2–3 mark in the postseason.
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Overall, Tannehill put together a respectable career — though inconsistencies defined much of it. The fact that he remains unsigned at age 36, a year removed from his last snap, signals how much his value has faded.
Klubnik, of course, hopes for a steadier path — though the parallels are there. And he's fully aware of how far he’s come.
“I think that I’m kind of the epitome of the word ‘development,’” Klubnik said on On3’s Andy & Ari podcast. “What Clemson’s done with me is they’ve developed me, they’ve gotten me better. So, if I’m a quarterback and I’m wanting to get better, Clemson is the place to do it.”
Klubnik also admitted he “wasn’t very good” during his sophomore campaign. In 2023, he threw for 2,844 yards with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions while leading the Tigers to a disappointing 9–4 finish.
If he can build on his 2024 breakout and leave 2023 behind, Klubnik could emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft — especially if Clemson keeps winning.
“Clemson should be a national title contender,” Jeremiah wrote, “and if Klubnik can take the next step as a player, he'll generate significant draft buzz."