Where Is Klubnik in This National Outlet’s QB Rankings?

Clemson’s QB1 took one of the top spots in this national outlet’s college football quarterback rankings.

Athlon Sports stacked up the top 10 returning quarterbacks for the 2025 season going into the spring, and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik checked in at No. 2 on the list, behind only Arch Manning of Texas.

Of course, Klubnik is coming off a career year as a junior in 2024 and enters the 2025 campaign as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

The former five-star prospect from Texas was one of two quarterbacks in the country to throw for more than 3,500 yards and run for 400 last season. Klubnik also finished second nationally in total touchdowns with 43. He was third nationally in touchdown passes with 36, and his six interceptions were second fewest among quarterbacks who threw 28 or more touchdown passes in 2024.

Klubnik’s performance guided the Tigers back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020. He also led Clemson to another ACC Championship, while he earned his second MVP award in the title game, becoming only the third player ever to win multiple ACC Championship Game MVP honors.

“Klubnik took a massive step forward in his development in 2024 and could end ‘25 as the top overall quarterback in college football,” Athlon’s Steven Lassan wrote. “En route to guiding Clemson to an ACC Championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff, Klubnik threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also added 463 yards and seven scores on the ground and limited his mistakes (only six picks over 486 attempts).”

Last season, Klubnik tied Tajh Boyd (36 in 2012) and Trevor Lawrence (36 in 2019) for the second-most passing touchdowns in a season in Clemson history. Klubnik’s 43 touchdowns responsible for ranked sixth in school history and were the most since Lawrence’s 45 in 2019, and he ranked seventh in school history in passing yards in a single season.

Klubnik will enter the 2025 season having thrown for 7,180 yards with 57 touchdowns and 18 interceptions over 37 games (28 starts) from 2022-24. He has also rushed for 784 yards and 13 touchdowns on 286 rushing attempts over his first three seasons.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder will enter his senior campaign ranking in the top five in Clemson history in nearly every passing category, including passing touchdowns (fourth), passing yards (fourth), passing attempts (fourth) and completions (fifth), while he will enter the year ranked fifth in career touchdown responsibility and sixth in yards of total offense.

Next season, Klubnik and the Tigers are slated to play against three quarterbacks in Athlon’s QB rankings — LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier (No. 3 on the list), South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers (No. 6) and SMU’s Kevin Jennings (No. 10).

Clemson opens the season against Nussmeier and LSU at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30.