The Clemson Tigers are one of the most hyped teams entering the 2025 college football season — and much of that has to do with the growth of starting quarterback Cade Klubnik.
Now in his fourth season with the Tigers, Klubnik's journey has been anything but smooth. Unlike some of the Clemson quarterbacks before him who found immediate success, Klubnik has had to develop over time.
“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 admitted he “wasn’t very good” during his sophomore season. That year, he threw for 2,844 yards with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions, completing 63.9% of his passes while leading Clemson to a 9-4 record. Last season, his completion percentage held steady, but he improved across the board — passing for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just six interceptions as Clemson finished 10-4, won the ACC, and earned a College Football Playoff berth.
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When asked how he’s preparing for the upcoming season, the early Heisman Trophy favorite said he’s modeling his game after NFL stars like Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes.
That shouldn't come as a surprise considering the success both quarterbacks have had. Klubnik also shares a connection with Burrow through quarterback guru Jordan Palmer, who is working with him this offseason.
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But the most surprising influence Klubnik mentioned? Bailey Zappe — specifically Zappe’s record-setting senior year at Western Kentucky.
“Last year, I studied senior year of Bailey Zappe because he had a great year. I wanted to improve my presence in the pocket, anticipation, and just delivery. So I studied him,” Klubnik said.
Zappe threw for 5,967 yards and 62 touchdowns while completing 69% of his passes that year — one of the most productive seasons in college football history. It’s a rare QB to model after, but if Klubnik puts up anything close to those numbers this fall, he could find himself not only in New York for the Heisman ceremony, but also leading Clemson into the national championship game.