The stage is set for Cade Klubnik; now he’s got to deliver the goods. Last year, we saw Dabo Swinney’s QB maybe bite off a bit more than he could chew, especially in that shaky opener against Georgia back on August 31st, 2024. Footwork doubts started creeping in. But the quarterback bounced back as the season went on. Still, come 2025, he’s got to prove he’s the real deal.

Even with a ton on his plate, Klubnik knows how to live it up a bit off the field. Right now, he’s busy out on the course, perfecting his swing. And get this—his off-field fun actually landed him some love from a master champion himself. Turns out, Klubnik’s luck didn’t stop there; he also snagged a pretty awesome thumbs-up from one of the most outspoken critics in college football, Paul Finebaum too.

Cade Klubnik is throwing dimes and driving 300

Well, the job is half done for Klubnik. This season, he had the chance to fly off to the NFL but thought of taking a U-turn. The 2024 season did test his skills and patience. Klubnik went on to rank third nationally in passing touchdowns (36) and threw for 3,639 yards. However, he did put up a ‘very average’ feat during the Tigers’ first spring scrimmage in 2025. But he soon whitewashed his image with consistent throws. And Klubnik capped off the drills with a strong finish during the pro day, connecting with tight end Jake Briningstool on a 45- to 50-yard pass. So what’s the 2026 vision for Swinney’s QB? As On3 analyst Andy Staples predicted,  “If Cade Klubnik takes a huge step forward from where he ended last year, we’re talking like first-round draft pick level of play here.” 

Now that the QB knows he’s got a bright future, he figured it was time for some fun. The first week of April marks an important time for golf enthusiasts. Since 1934, amidst blooming azaleas, towering pines, and flowering dogwoods, the first full week of April ushers in a stage unique to golf and to sport, the Masters. Amidst such hype, Klubnik turned heads, showing his skills while playing a virtual golf game alongside his fellow Clemson linebacker Wade Woodaz, who was also perfecting his swings. The duo joined the 2 Right Turns podcast on April 7th, where the host shared how Klubnik managed to earn some gold stars from Masters legend Trevor Immelman.

“I recently had the opportunity to sit down with former Masters’ champion and big Clemson fan, Trevor Immelman. And toward the end of our conversation, Trevor happened to walk us through your swings and provide a little feedback.” To which the Clemson QB got a little shy and laughed away. He then shared Immelman’s clip where the legend was totally blown away by Klubnik’s natural talent in this new sport. He captioned the story with a humble, “I’ve got a longggg way to go. You are the GOAT! Appreciate you man!!” Clearly, the praise landed well.

“Oh man! This swing is pure right there. Oh wow, he’s crushed that. This is a good move here from QB1. This is elite level stuff, let me tell you,” Trevor Immelman raved. The QB was straight-up crushing it, hitting drives over 300 yards. Now, what a great way to step into the 2025 season to also have found Finebaum by his side. 

Cade Klubnik lands in Paul Finebaum’s good books 

Maybe the hunger within Klubnik to continuously improve himself is what turns out to be in his favor. In an interview with 247Sports, the QB confessed, “I think that I had a pretty good year last year, but I want to be elite—that’s consistency in every game, every drive, every play. I have a very high standard for myself, and I want to continue to chase that.” Former Cleveland Browns star Gerald V Dixon has some high hopes for the QB. His next goal is, “So, more than 42 touchdowns for Cade Klubnik in 2025?”

Dixon confidently answered, “50, we have seen it before… 50 and a Heisman.” If that’s not enough of a motivation for Klubnik, here comes some more motivating juice to sip on! On The Paul Finebaum Show, one of the sport’s most influential voices picked up his favorite. “I think it’s possible Cade Klubnik is the best quarterback coming back in the country.”

It’s not just Paul Finebaum; he also reflects the opinions of his trusted inner circle. “I know everyone has their personal favorites, but the people I believe in and trust—he’s in the top two or three. He gets a chance to prove it against LSU.” Even with all the hype, Week 1 is still the big proving ground for Klubnik as he leads the Clemson Tigers into that massive season opener against LSU on August 30th. So, is he the secret sauce that finally cooks up a national title for Dabo this season?