Scouting Cade Klubnik: Why the Clemson QB Looks Like a Future First-Rounder

Welcome back to The McShay Report! Today, we’re diving deep into Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 class. I really liked what I saw on his tape and view Klubnik as a first-round talent heading into the 2025 college football season.

Klubnik’s a well-rounded passer who thrives in chaos. He still needs to work on his anticipatory passing, but if he can build on a breakout 2024 campaign that saw him throw for 36 touchdowns and nearly 3,700 yards, he’ll be in the mix to be the first QB off the board next April.

Next week, we’ll continue our Summer Scouting Series with Penn State’s Drew Allar and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. If you’re a new subscriber, make sure to check out the rest of the reports in this series, which can be found here. 

Cade Klubnik Scouting Report

Klubnik is listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds. During his first three seasons, from 2022 to 2024 (37 career games, 28 starts, and 2,137 snaps), Klubnik completed 659 of 1,040 passes (63.4 percent) for 7,180 yards, with 57 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He has also rushed for 784 yards and 13 touchdowns on 286 attempts.

Players are graded on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being best.

Mental Makeup (1)

• Fast processor. Full-field reads with fast eyes. Really encouraged by how quickly he gets through reads from the pocket.

• Also thrives in chaos. Doesn’t panic. Very comfortable with pressure around him and knows when to slide and when to climb. Extremely instinctive in these moments. Always advancing the play, not retreating.

• Protects the football! Very few turnover-worthy plays and doesn’t take many unnecessary sacks. Really impressed with that aspect of his game.

• Can still be a quarter count late to pull the trigger (he wants to see wide receivers’ jersey numbers on some hard-cutting and comeback routes), but he made significant strides from 2023 to 2024—and also noticeably improved late last season.

Accuracy (2)

• Accuracy continues to improve. Made big strides in 2024, and I don’t think he’s done improving.

• Hits his spots in the intermediate game.

• Throws a catchable ball, especially down the field. Gives WRs opportunities to go up and make one-on-one plays—and does so by giving them good angles to attack the ball.

• I want to see continued improvement in anticipatory accuracy. Get the ball out earlier, lead WRs to their spots. That’s a big “next step” in Cade’s pro development. I see enough flashes to know that there’s more in there—just need to see a natural step in his progression (like Jayden Daniels during his final year at LSU).

• Deep-shot placement is still a bit streaky, as is his accuracy when rolling out. But again, there are enough positive examples on tape to show he’s capable of refinement.

Release/Arm Strength (1.5)

• Lots of late energy on his ball. Really like his ability to drive deep outs and verticals without the ball sailing. Just good juice.

• Quick trigger. Compact and sharp delivery in the quick game.

• Arm elasticity really stands out. His ball velocity, like Bo Nix’s, is underrated.

Pocket Mobility (1.5)

• Extends a lot of plays but does so with poise. Same vibes as Nix and even Jaxson Dart. Calm in chaos. Embraces the storm.

• Highly competitive and tough, and he thrives under pressure.

• He’s just a comfortable, smooth mover who gets what’s available but will also throw a little open-field shake, stiff-arm, or shoulder to pick up 3-5 more yards. Everything is under control with this guy!

• Hard to sack due to his instincts and agility, and he has enough strength to ward off defenders. Was sacked just 23 times in 14 games in 2024.

• Not as twitchy or fast as LaNorris Sellers but still has plenty of suddenness as a runner. And in many ways (due to his instincts and game experience), Klubnik has superior functional pocket mobility that has helped him take fewer sacks than Sellers and kept him from making as many turnover-worthy plays—despite Sellers clearly being the more dynamic athlete.

Preseason Prospect Status

Klubnik is even better on tape than he was on TV last fall. His improvement from his early-career ups and downs is remarkable. The things that stand out most to me are his functional mobility and calmness in chaos. He also has an elastic arm and gets good energy on throws, with plus accuracy. He does have room to grow in terms of getting the ball out quicker and throwing with more anticipation. He’s a first-round quarterback all day long. How early he comes off the board in Round 1 of the ’26 draft will be determined by the progress he continues to make on the field this season.

NFL Comp: Bo Nix

Very similar frame, mobility, creativity, and arm elasticity. Both thrive in chaos but can also operate the offense on time. Klubnik made fewer critical errors in 2024 than Nix did during his final season at Auburn. I’m expecting 2025 to be for Klubnik what 2023 was for Nix in terms of development.

From the Scouting Notebook: A bonus inside look at some of the stream-of-consciousness notes I took while watching Klubnik’s film. (These are intentionally unedited!)

Georgia 

3:27 1Q: Hell of a throw! PC route. Feet not settled. Drops it in beautifully between DB and SL!

11:30 3Q: You see the experience here. No protection. Scrambling again. Gets outside pocket and starts directing target. Completion completely manufactured by 2.

9:57 4Q: Just drills an out route! Seen a few of these vs. UGA. Energy at end of throw stands out.

9:50 4Q (NEXT PLAY): INT. Don’t have a problem. Losing big, taking a shot, one-on-one, WR trips up a bit. Ball slightly underthrown but WR could have played it differently. And awesome play by Malaki Starks!

NC State 

13:45 1Q: RUN THREAT. Good pull on option, lets blocks develop, then runs away for 55yd TD.

8:11 1Q: Extends RT. BUYS TIME vs. interior fast-flashing pressure. Really nice off-balance throw (43 yds in air) to EZ.

7:25 2Q: 52 yds in air. Didn’t strain and hit on follow-through. Well enough placed (close to in-stride before WR slowed a tick at end) but dropped by WR0.

7:18 2Q: Nice touch on a simple rail shot. Drops it in perfectly despite getting hit.

1:35 2Q: Rolling RT. Tick late and overthrows WR out or back EZ. Want to see him more on time. Made this throw too difficult by not pulling trigger early!

11:42 3Q: Really nice example of a full-field read. RT to LT full-field progression. Drills strike on 15yd in-route backside. 

Florida State

3:30 1Q: Sidesteps rush, makes the right read, downfield throw with bracketed cvg. Layers it instead of drilling it, which was an interesting choice, but it allowed the WR to adjust and come back to the ball while also compromising the two DBs’ pursuit angles. Some next-level stuff here. Just a really good feel for the game! ***WR pinballs off two defenders after catch and house calls it (57yd TD).

1:08 1Q: OOB rail shot LT. Playing it safe but missed the spot.

***Then two long runs late 2Q, early 3Q.

:49 2Q: LOVE SEEING HIS ANTICIPATION ON SPEED OUT. Rips it early, perfect placement along left SL. It’s in there! Just want to see more of these in ’25.

***I learned after the fact that he was “shaken up” during the FSU game and had to come out at one point.

Wake Forest

- Played well. News reeled this one versus marginal defense. Completed high percentage.

Virginia

13:20 1Q: Nicely placed back-shoulder fade down the right sideline.

10:07 1Q: Pretty wild cross-field scramble to create easy throw (albeit rolling LT) for 30-plus-yd gain.

:05 1Q: REALLY BAD INT. Not sure what he was seeing/thinking. Completely out of character compared to rest of ’24 tape to this point. But FILE IT AWAY.

9:25 2Q: Badly overshot TE WIDE OPEN in back of EZ. JUST LAZY WITH FEET AND HE KNEW IT. WANTED IT BACK THE SECOND IT LEFT HIS HAND.

***UVA game was by far his worst performance to date this season. Really kept Virginia in it for a while! Couple ugly mistakes and a handful of REALLY ERRANT throws. A head-scratcher!?? But the rest of the team carried him in a lopsided final result.

Louisville

- Misses a couple shots early but got in rhythm late 1Q. Overall performance was up-and-down.

12:53 2Q: Extends w/ feet, locate, deliver.

:55 4Q: Just flat-out misses open shot over middle (high).

:12 4Q: Another easy miss.

Pittsburgh

- Drilling strikes early. Looks as comfortable as he did earlier in season. In complete control. Early turnover on RPO throw was a protection issue. Otherwise looks sharp.

10:30 1Q: Really nice job extending and drilling strike (over LB) while rolling out hard to RT and not on balance (broken-off comeback route RT SL).

10:24 1Q: Pocket strike on curl/in route.

7:14 1Q: Delivers ball on time and target (bang 8) in EZ before DB gets there for TD.

4:40 1Q: Full field progression. From right back to left. Misses inside strike zone but really like the fast eyes here from inside pocket.

3:43 1Q: Full field read (LT to RT), slide/climbs pocket, perfectly placed ball on seam route but TE drops it.

:58 1Q: Anticipation throw (speed out LT again).

:01 1Q: Great placement where only WR can get ball on out route (RT). DB draped, still fits it in.

11:43 2Q: Feels front-side pressure coming (protection aware) and gets ball out last second without flinching. Delivers ball in stride on 30yd post.

11:14 2Q: Wide-open in-stride post (TD).

8:20 2Q: Overthrows same post route as TD pass earlier in quarter. Worked full-field read back to LT side. Didn’t bring feet with him properly (basically parallel to LOS).

***Late third quarter and early fourth quarter: Misses a few open throws and takes a sack. Nothing egregious but a little up-and-down.

***But gets ball back with 1:36 remaining trailing 20-17.

- Climbs pocket and delivers strike on the move to WR along LT SL. Then designed run 50yd TD! Delivers!

South Carolina

4:16 1Q: Nice touch RT rail shot. Lets WR make a play (great catch) on ball.

13:32 2Q: Catchable deep post. Just SLIGHTLY undershot but tends to be his MO—and WRs make plays.

12:10 2Q: Calls his own number, QB draw. Easy rushing TD.

:44 2Q: Energy on ball! From RT hash to LT sideline on a rope!

13:00 3Q: Tucks ball and runs LT. Good gain. Speed is good, not great.

~10:00 3Q: RPO, slant not open. Tucks ball and runs RT for TD. One cut, slight burst, and then lowers shoulder at end.

***Misses a few too many targets in third/fourth QTs.
***Gets ball back with 1:08 remaining trailing 17-14:

• Fast eyes, hits TE over middle—out to midfield.

• Drills strike on next play to WR on curl—full-field read, fast eyes through progressions.

• QB draw. Solid gain.

• QB draw again—first down.

• :16 remaining—slides from pressure a bit early, ball behind target, tipped to defender INT. Game over.

SMU (ACC Championship)

14:00 1Q: Tucks to run LT, locates open WR—easy TD to 12.

3:59 1Q: Good read … really nice strike in-stride on seam route. Fits it between defenders. TD.

***Makes some plus throws but nothing worth clipping that we haven’t seen before. Misses a few easy shots (overall, he misses too many outlet throws in the flats!!) and should’ve thrown a pick with 4:36 4Q leading by only 7 pts. Not sharp enough to put SMU away!

***But gets ball back with 0:09 remaining and completes a curl to left side (FAST EYES, went to scramble but locates WR and drills a strike on the move—impressive throw off-balance under pressure). Sets up 56-yard FG for win!

Texas (College Football Playoff)

- Really impressed with his ability in 1Q to handle pressure. Scrambling to buy time. Scrambling to run. And throwing on the run (13:00 1Q rolling LT, defender hitting him, still delivers on target). Getting ball out quickly when needed, too.

- But it was 21-7 before he could do much about it. Two-minute drive stalls before half (failed trick play, he missed a target on the run)—and then it’s 31-10 in the third QTR.

4:20 3Q: Anticipation throw to TE—layers it over DB. Really nice touch from pocket.

3:35 3Q: Easy look versus CVG breakdown on RPO fake—TD on seam route.

***31-17 — Keeps grinding. Respect the fight. Hangs in pocket, making fast reads and hitting open targets when available.

15:00 4Q: Connects on high-difficulty throw to post-route LT SL (high but hits him).

- Tough run inside the 10. Then hangs in pocket, moves enough to buy time, and then hits his WR in the EZ to cut it to 31-24! Really respect the way he’s competing and keeping his composure to get CLEM back in this one.

10:01 4Q: (38-21) Beautiful RT rail shot. Teardrop!

9:20 4Q: Another teardrop down the RT rail to the 10-yard line!

1:43 4Q: Climbs, complete on the run. Hurry up … but misses a couple nearly impossible throws. Loss. But really encouraged by a LOT of things he did in this one!