Cade Klubnik’s high school career was straight out of a Hallmark sports movie. He was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 QB in the country. He led Austin’s Westlake High School to back-to-back state championships in Texas’ biggest and toughest prep football classification, 6A. He was 27-0 as a starting quarterback. 27-0.

The gamble paid off. Klubnik exploded in 2024 with more than 4,000 total yards and 42 touchdowns. He capped the year with an MVP performance in the ACC title game, tossing four scores in a 34-31 win over SMU that secured Clemson’s return to the College Football Playoff.

One of college football's Heisman frontrunners to start the 2025 season, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik would've likely never been in this position if not for Tigers coach Dabo Swinney. Klubnik credits Swinney for walking him off the transfer portal ledge earlier in his career after the former five-star prospect's starting tenure began with a bevy of detractors in 2023 during his sophomore season.