Cade Klubnik’s 2025 Season Stats and Performance Breakdown

Quick Answer

Cade Klubnik completed his 2025 season at Clemson with 2,943 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions while completing 65.6 percent of his passes. He was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 110th overall pick and has already begun competing for playing time as a rookie, including starting a preseason game against the Buccaneers.

Key Facts

• 2025 College Stats: 257 completions on 392 attempts (65.6 percent) for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions
• Passing Average: 7.5 yards per attempt with a 139.0 quarterback rating
• Rushing Production: 83 carries for 94 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2025
• Team Record: Clemson went 7–5 in games Klubnik started during the 2025 season
• 2024 Comparison: Klubnik threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns with a 148.2 rating, making 2025 a statistically significant drop-off
• NFL Draft: Selected in the fourth round (110th overall) by the New York Jets in the 2026 NFL Draft
• Physical Profile: Listed at 6'2" and 210 pounds, born October 10, 2003, in Austin, Texas
• College Career Totals: 916 completions on 1,432 attempts (64.0 percent) for 10,132 yards, 73 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions across 49 games (40 starts)
• Career Rushing: 369 carries for 878 yards and 17 touchdowns
• Preseason Action: Started against the Buccaneers in a 24–16 loss, completing 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards
• Training Camp Development: Ran with the first-team offense at Jets training camp in mid-August 2026

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From Texas High School Star to Clemson's Starter

Cade Klubnik's path to the NFL began in Austin, Texas, where he attended Westlake High School. His high school career built a foundation that made him one of the more anticipated quarterback prospects to enter the Clemson program.

Klubnik arrived at Clemson in 2022 and spent his early years developing within the Tigers' system before eventually taking over as the full-time starter. The transition from high school standout to college starter was not immediate.

Klubnik's college career spanned four seasons at Clemson from 2022 through 2025, and he appeared in 49 games while starting 40 of them. The Tigers compiled a 26–14 record in games he started, reflecting both his contributions and the team's overall performance during his tenure.

His 2024 season represented the statistical peak of his college career. Klubnik threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns while completing passes at a rate that produced a 148.2 quarterback rating.

That production established him as one of the more productive quarterbacks in the ACC and created expectations for his senior season. The 2025 campaign did not match those numbers, however.

Klubnik's passing yardage dropped to 2,943, and his touchdown total fell sharply to 16. His completion percentage actually improved slightly to 65.6 percent from his career average, but the decline in explosive plays and scoring production was evident.

The quarterback rating of 139.0, while still respectable, represented a meaningful step back from his junior year output.

The 2025 Season A Statistical Breakdown

Passing Production and Efficiency

The 2025 season saw Klubnik attempt 392 passes and complete 257 of them. That completion rate of 65.6 percent demonstrates consistent accuracy, and his yards-per-attempt figure of 7.5 suggests he was not simply checking down on every play.

However, the touchdown-to-attempt ratio tells a different story. Sixteen touchdowns across 392 attempts works out to one touchdown for every 24.5 pass attempts.

For context, his 2024 season produced 36 touchdowns on a similar volume, representing a much more efficient scoring rate. The drop in touchdown production cannot be attributed to a single factor, but it contributed significantly to Clemson's 7–5 record in his starts.

Interceptions remained relatively controlled at six for the season, giving him a touchdown-to-interception ratio of approximately 2.7 to 1. That figure is solid but not exceptional, and it reflects a quarterback who managed the game conservatively rather than taking frequent deep shots.

Game-by-Game Highlights

The available game log shows a mixed final season. Against Furman on November 22, Klubnik had one of his better statistical outings, throwing for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 completions from 15 attempts.

That performance produced a 193.0 quarterback rating, the highest among the games with available data. The rivalry game against South Carolina on November 29 showed a different side of his game.

Klubnik completed 24 of 39 passes for 268 yards but threw 1 interception and no touchdowns. The Tigers still won that game 28–14, demonstrating that the offense could succeed without relying on his arm to produce scoring plays.

The final game of his college career came against Penn State on December 27 in a bowl matchup. Klubnik threw for 193 yards on 22 completions from 39 attempts with no touchdowns and no interceptions, producing a 98.0 quarterback rating in a 22–10 loss.

That game illustrated both his reliability as a game manager and the limitations of the Clemson offense in generating explosive plays when needed.

The Transfer Portal Episode

One of the more significant storylines of Klubnik's college career involved his brief entry into the transfer portal. Reports indicate that Klubnik was granted a temporary restraining order for a fifth year of eligibility, and there was uncertainty about whether Clemson would accept him back.

A conversation with head coach Dabo Swinney reportedly played a pivotal role in Klubnik's decision to remain with the Tigers. Multiple outlets have reported that this blunt discussion spurred his subsequent production.

The exact details of that conversation are not fully public, but the outcome was that Klubnik returned to Clemson for the 2025 season rather than transferring. That decision proved consequential for his development.

Had he transferred to another program, his draft stock might have followed a very different trajectory. Instead, he completed his Clemson career with over 10,000 passing yards and established himself as a fourth-round NFL prospect.

The Road to the NFL Draft

Draft Profile and Selection

Klubnik declared for the 2026 NFL Draft after completing his college career. His profile entering the draft was that of a polished, experienced quarterback with four years of college starting experience but questions about his physical tools and ceiling at the professional level.

The New York Jets selected Klubnik in the fourth round with the 110th overall pick, a selection acquired through a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals. The pick represented an investment in a developmental quarterback rather than an immediate starter, given that the Jets had other options on the roster.

ESPN's pre-draft analysis described Klubnik as an undersized, conservative quarterback. His average depth of target (aDOT) of 7.4 ranked last among the rookie quarterbacks in his class, suggesting that he preferred shorter, higher-percentage throws rather than pushing the ball downfield.

That assessment aligned with his college production, which featured high completion percentages but lower touchdown totals in his final season.

College Career Context

Klubnik's career numbers at Clemson place him among the more productive quarterbacks in program history. His 10,132 career passing yards and 73 touchdowns came across 49 games, and his 64.0 percent career completion rate demonstrates consistent accuracy throughout his tenure.

The 2025 season, while statistically weaker than 2024, still showed a quarterback capable of managing an offense effectively. His 65.6 percent completion rate was his best as a starter, and his interception total of 6 was the lowest of his starting seasons.

That combination of accuracy and ball security likely appealed to NFL teams looking for a reliable backup with starting potential.

Klubnik's Early Days with the New York Jets

Training Camp Competition

The Jets' quarterback room entering the 2026 season included veteran options, but Klubnik quickly made his presence felt during training camp. In mid-August 2026, reports emerged that Klubnik had run with the first-team offense during practice for the first time.

That development was significant for a fourth-round rookie. Earning first-team reps suggests the coaching staff saw enough from Klubnik during the early stages of camp to give him meaningful opportunities against starting defenses.

While quarterbacks often rotate through drills, the specific designation of running with the starters carries weight in terms of the team's evaluation of his progress. The Jets' coaching staff, led by Aaron Glenn, had to weigh the experience of veteran quarterbacks like Geno Smith against the upside of developing a younger player.

Klubnik's opportunity with the first team did not necessarily mean he had won the starting job, but it signaled that the coaching staff wanted to see how he performed against the highest level of competition available in practice.

Preseason Performance

Klubnik's first meaningful professional action came in a preseason game against the Buccaneers on August 21, 2026. He got the start and completed 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards, adding 1 carry for 16 yards on the ground.

The stat line was modest but efficient. A 71.4 percent completion rate in limited action demonstrated that the transition to the NFL game had not overwhelmed him.

The 16-yard run also hinted at the mobility that made him a dual threat at times during his college career. The Jets lost that game 24–16, but preseason results carry little weight in evaluating a rookie quarterback's long-term potential.

The more important takeaway was that Klubnik looked comfortable operating the offense and made accurate throws when given opportunities.

Looking Ahead to the Regular Season

With the regular season approaching, Klubnik's role for 2026 remains uncertain. He could open the season as the backup, continue competing for the starting job, or find himself in a development role on the roster.

The Jets' investment in Klubnik as a fourth-round pick suggests they view him as a long-term project with starter potential. His college experience—49 games, 40 starts, over 10,000 passing yards—gives him a level of game experience that many rookie quarterbacks lack.

That experience could accelerate his development as he learns the professional offense. The preseason game against the Steelers on August 28 will provide another opportunity for Klubnik to demonstrate his progress.

Whether he continues to see first-team reps in practice will be one of the more telling indicators of how the coaching staff views his trajectory.

Evaluating Klubnik's Strengths and Limitations

What He Does Well

Klubnik's accuracy stands out as his most reliable attribute. His career completion percentage of 64.0 percent across 1,432 attempts demonstrates that he can consistently deliver catchable passes.

Even in his statistically weaker 2025 season, he improved his completion rate to 65.6 percent, suggesting his accuracy remained intact even as other aspects of his production declined. His experience is another asset.

Forty college starts against a variety of defensive schemes, including rivalry games against South Carolina and bowl matchups against Penn State, prepared him for the mental demands of playing quarterback at a high level. That experience should translate to the NFL, where processing speed and decision-making are often the difference between success and failure.

Klubnik also demonstrated durability and toughness throughout his college career. He took hits as a runner, accumulating 369 carries across his four seasons, and remained healthy enough to start consistently.

His rushing production, while modest at 878 career yards, shows he can extend plays and pick up yards when the pocket breaks down.

Where Questions Remain

The most significant concern about Klubnik entering the NFL was his conservative style of play. His average depth of target ranked last among rookie quarterbacks in his class, indicating that he preferred short and intermediate throws rather than attacking downfield.

That style can be effective in the right offensive system, but it limits the ceiling of an offense and makes sustained drives more difficult. His touchdown production in 2025 also raised questions about his ability to finish drives.

Sixteen touchdowns in 12 games is a modest figure for a starting quarterback at a major program, and it reflected an offense that struggled to generate explosive scoring plays. Whether that limitation was a function of Klubnik's decision-making or the supporting cast around him remains an open question.

His physical attributes also draw scrutiny. At 6'2" and around 210 pounds, Klubnik is not an undersized quarterback by traditional standards, but he does not possess elite arm strength or exceptional athleticism.

His game relies more on precision and timing than on overwhelming physical tools, which can limit his ceiling at the professional level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were Cade Klubnik's final college statistics?

Klubnik completed 916 of 1,432 career passes at Clemson for 10,132 yards, 73 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. He also rushed for 878 yards and 17 touchdowns on 369 carries across 49 games.

His career completion percentage was 64.0 percent.

Why did Klubnik's 2025 production drop from 2024?

His touchdown total fell from 36 in 2024 to 16 in 2025, and his passing yards dropped from 3,639 to 2,943. The specific reasons are not fully documented in available sources, but the decline coincided with a 7–5 team record and a more conservative offensive approach in several games.

Which NFL team drafted Cade Klubnik?

The New York Jets selected Klubnik in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 110th overall pick. The pick was acquired through a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Did Klubnik enter the transfer portal during his college career?

Yes. Klubnik was granted a temporary restraining order that allowed for a fifth year of eligibility and there was discussion about him entering the transfer portal if Clemson did not accept him back.

A conversation with head coach Dabo Swinney reportedly convinced him to remain with the Tigers.

How has Klubnik performed in the 2026 NFL preseason?

Klubnik started the Jets' preseason game against the Buccaneers on August 21, 2026, completing 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He also gained 16 yards on one carry.

Reference Notes

Information in this article is based on publicly available sources. Some details may change over time.

Verify with official sources before acting.