10,000-Yard College Football QB Announces NFL Draft Decision In Farewell Note
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The Clemson Tigers are facing a major transition under center following quarterback Cade Klubnik‘s news from Wednesday.
After completing his senior season with the Tigers, Klubnik officially announced he’s declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, closing the book on a four-year run that rewrote multiple records in program history.
The Austin, Texas native announced the decision on his Instagram account, thanking the Clemson program, coaches, teammates and fans.
“Thank you for taking a 17-year-old kid who grew up 17 hours away in Austin, TX, and shaping me into the man I am today,” Klubnik wrote. “Thank you for the hundreds of incredible relationships I’ve built and the thousands of unforgettable moments. Thank you for always believing in me and truly becoming my second home.”
Added Klubnik: “Thank you to all my coaches for pushing me to be the best I can be — pushing me to be the best Cade Klubnik there is. Thank you for the years of encouragement and support that have helped get me to this point.
“Thank you to my teammates for being a group of brothers I’ve been able to lean on and grow with. Thank you for showing me what true grit and perseverance looks like.
“To my family and close friends, thank y’all for always loving me for who I am, not what I do. Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made to help make my dream of playing college football come true.”
Klubnik played in 49 games over his Clemson career, starting 40 of them. The signal-caller threw for 10,123 yards, 73 touchdowns against 24 interceptions and rushed for another 878 yards and 17 scores on the ground.
Klubnik leaves the program with school records for pass completions (916) and attempts (1,432). He also holds the Orange Bowl record for single-game passing attempts (54).
The former five-star recruit was a two-time ACC Championship Game MVP and posted a 26-14 record as a starter, becoming one of six quarterbacks in school history to win 25 games.
Klubnik’s departure is a significant blow for head coach Dabo Swinney, who now faces a wide-open competition for the starting job in 2026.
Clemson’s current quarterbacks are Christopher Vizzina (who has started once in three years), along with Chris Denson and Trent Pearman (who have never started for Clemson). The Tigers also added two incoming freshmen in Brock Bradley and Tait Reynolds.
The Tigers have not been linked to any quarterbacks in the transfer portal despite the departure of Klubnik and have no clear successor in place.
Klubnik’s final season saw a statistical decline from his junior season, with 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, casting doubt on his draft stock. As a junior, Klubnik passed for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions, leading the Tigers to the ACC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
“These past four years exceeded every expectation I had, and I’m excited for what’s next,” Klubnik wrote. “It’s a true honor to say that I will be declaring for the NFL Draft.”
The consensus opinion from industry analysts has Klubnik drafted around the 53rd pick and as the fifth-best quarterback in the 2026 class.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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