Steelers Now
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik did not have the kind of senior season that will catapult him into the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he’s taken an unusual step in terms of how he hopes to remedy that. Klubnik, the No. 5 quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft class according to NFL Mock Draft Database, will attend the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl in an attempt to resurrect his draft stock.
Klubnik had the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy in the preseason and had Clemson among the College Football Playoff national champion favorites. The season didn’t go as expected with Klubnik finishing with 2,750 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interception, and leading Clemson to a 7-5 record.
For Klubnik, the 2025 campaign was a test of expectations versus execution. After exploding onto the national scene in 2024 with over 3,600 yards and 36 touchdowns, he entered last season with hype befitting a future top 10 draft pick. But inconsistency, missed opportunities downfield, and growing pains against pressure dampened what had looked like a runaway rise.
Few quarterbacks in college football entered the season carrying more pressure than Klubnik. A former five-star recruit and one of the most accomplished passers in Clemson history, Klubnik was viewed as the type of quarterback capable of carrying a program back into national relevance. Instead, his final season exposed the fine margins between potential and consistency at the quarterback position.
On tape, Klubnik remains an intriguing evaluation. He plays with confidence, toughness, and mobility, capable of extending plays and delivering accurate throws on the move. His footwork and mechanics are generally sound, and he shows comfort working through progressions when protected. However, his senior season revealed lingering issues, hesitation against pressure, uneven deep-ball placement, and a tendency to force throws when the offense stalled. Those flaws didn’t erase his talent, but they prevented him from making the leap scouts hoped to see.
What makes Klubnik’s evaluation particularly interesting is the context of this year’s quarterback class. After a flurry of hype ahead of the 2026 cycle, several once-touted names either struggled in 2025 or opted to return to school, thinning the pool for NFL teams seeking ready-made talent. Compared to recent draft cycles, this group lacks a clear hierarchy at the top. There is no consensus franchise quarterback. The result is a class filled with developmental prospects rather than ready-made starters, putting increased emphasis on traits, upside, and projection rather than production alone.
That dynamic works both for and against Klubnik. On one hand, his disappointing senior season pushed him out of early-round conversations. On the other, his experience, athletic profile, and flashes of high-level play stand out in a class that lacks polish across the board. In a weaker QB group, teams may be more willing to bet on a player with Klubnik’s pedigree, especially if he can show improvement in decision-making and command during pre-draft events.
The Shrine Bowl is therefore a critical opportunity. All-star practices allow evaluators to isolate...
