Cade Klubnik thanks Clemson football, announces NFL draft decision
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CLEMSON — Quarterback Cade Klubnik thanked Clemson football and its fans and announced he is entering the 2026 NFL Draft on Jan. 14 after exhausting his eligibility.
“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 on Instagram. “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.
“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. …
“These past four years exceeded every expectation I had, and I’m excited for what’s next. It’s a true honor to say that I will be declaring for the NFL Draft.”
Klubnik helped Clemson win two ACC championships in 2022 and 2024 and propelled the Tigers back to the College Football Playoff in 2024, ending a three-year drought.
After playing four seasons with Clemson and starting in his final three years, Klubnik is third in program history in passing yards (10,123) and ninth all-time in passing yards in the ACC. He is No. 1 in Clemson history in completions with 901, which ranks fourth in ACC history. He is also the fourth quarterback in school history to throw and/or gain 11,000 career yards of total offense.
In his final game of his career, he completed 22-of-39 passes for 193 yards against Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27.
Cade Klubnik NFL draft projections
Klubnik entered 2025 as a Heisman candidate and projected first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after a sensational junior season, where he threw for 3,639 yards (10th in the nation) with 36 touchdowns (third) and six interceptions and rushed for 463 yards and seven scores.
Yet, he regressed this season, throwing for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns, six interceptions and rushing for 94 yards and four scores. This caused his draft stock to take a hit.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper does not have Klubnik listed in his top 10 quarterbacks in the draft and other writers/scouts don’t have him in their top five either.
Klubnik can still raise his stock in the pre-draft process after being invited to pre-draft events like the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl, where he will work out in front of NFL scouts, coaches and management.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Cade Klubnik to enter NFL draft, thanks Clemson after four-year career
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