You could say Clemson’s 2024 season was solid. An ACC title win and a CFP appearance. QB Cade Klubnik steered that ship to a 10-4 record, even if they hit a Texas-sized wall in that 38-24 loss. Now, after the smoke cleared, he’s at a crossroads: hit the NFL lottery or go another round with Dabo Swinney. He chose to run it back, talking up the team’s returning talent, and let’s be real, he sure wants to be NFL-ready. But is that even in the cards?

Not everyone is convinced that Cade Klubnik is a surefire NFL star. In a new On3 episode on March 2, Ari Wasserman dropped a take that Tigers fans might not want to hear. “A lot of the stuff for me is ceiling, and I think we’ve seen enough of Cade Klubnik to kind of know what he generally is,” he stated. “It’s a very good football player. I don’t know if Cade Klubnik’s ceiling is a top five pick.” A tough pill to swallow for the returning starter, who is the golden boy of Clemson’s QB room.

What’s even tougher is that Cade Klubnik’s name was nowhere in Wasserman’s preseason All-American projection. Instead, the Tigers’ defensive stars—Peter Woods and Sammy Brown—were the ones grabbing the spotlight. Sure, he delivered last season with 3,639 yards and 36 TDs while rushing for 463 yards and seven scores. But now the expectation is sky-high. Running it back isn’t going to be enough; he needs to level up. 

Cade Klubnik’s passing abilities have undeniably improved from 2023, which saw him rack up 2,844 yards and 19 TDs. And it’s going to be playmakers around him that are going to assist him. “I came to Clemson to win a national championship,” he said. “That’s still right here for me. I think we’ve got the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here coming back. That’s really what I wanted.” But with the latest spring practice development, things just got a whole lot tougher. 

Spring practice deals a tough blow for Cade Klubnik 

Dabo Swinney’s woes keep on piling. And the development of Clemson’s spring football practice has been harsh on him. Instead of it building chemistry and fine-tuning the players, the Tigers camp is looking more like a M.A.S.H. unit. On February 28, the HC delivered an injury status that’s longer than a late-night film session. “You’ll see some guys in green,” he stated. “Some will work their way out of it; some will stay in green all spring, depending on their situation.” 

Here’s a quick look at the walking wounded — 

Logan Anderson (ACL) – Out for spring practice. 

Stephiylan Green (Sports hernia) – Still in rehab.

Jay Haynes (ACC championship injury) – No clear timeline. 

Walker Parks and Olsen Patt-Henry (shoulder surgeries) – Limited reps.

Zaire Patterson (broken foot) – No timeline.

Ian Reed (lingering fall injury) – Still working back. 

Clay Swinney (Dabo Swinney’s son, broken foot) – No full-speed drills. 

Elyjah Thurmon (Rare Posterior Pelvic) – No contact.

Ari Watford (ACL tear) – Still recovering.

The good news is that most of these guys should be ready when it matters. The bad news is that spring reps are crucial, and Clemson’s depth is already getting stress-tested. Cade Klubnik wanted another year to refine his game, but with injuries stacking up and questions about his NFL ceiling, 2025 is shaping up to be a prove-it season.