Cade Klubnik ain’t exactly the type to lay low. Whether he’s slinging touchdowns or just trying to clear his head, the QB’s got a knack for making headlines (only for good reasons!). And recently, let’s just say the man decided to hit the reset button—hard 2382 miles away from Clemson. Now, while Dabo Swinney’s back in Clemson sweating the details, his QB1? Oh, he’s off somewhere a little more…paradisiacal, living the good life with the palm trees swaying and the golf course stretching out like paradise. But hey, the QB1 earned a little R&R, right? I mean, it ain’t every day you carry Clemson on your back, but while he’s out there doing his best old-money impersonation on the green, something wild’s brewing back home.
And by wild, we mean Dabo Swinney taking a flamethrower to Cade’s recent spring practice performance. Let’s not sugarcoat it—Dabo straight-up called Cade’s play ‘pretty average’. Yeah, ‘pretty average’ like when you try to drive your dad’s old beat-up truck uphill with a flat tire. Swinney didn’t hold back, saying, “I did not think Cade had a good day today. I thought he was very average. I think he was checked out.” Checked out? That’s a little dramatic, but hey, when your head coach says your mind’s already on spring break before it even starts, maybe it’s time to rethink a few things.
But where was Cade really checked out to? On March 19, Cade Klubnik took it to IG story: Enjoying his time, playing golf in the exotic location of Puerto Los Cabos, mimicking his boy, former All-American linebacker Evan Thompson’s golf impersonation like some old-money flex in an all-white outfit. Cade Klubnik looked like he was shooting a commercial for some rich-people cologne called ‘Elite’. And listen, if there was ever a place to wipe the slate clean and recharge, it’s Los Cabos. The man’s got a $3.3 million NIL valuation, might as well spend a piece of that in style.
Meanwhile, back at Clemson, Dabo Swinney’s cranking up the heat like it’s a midsummer BBQ. He’s not thrilled with his QB1, and he made it known loud and clear. You could practically hear the certain disappointment in his voice like the HC expected a miracle playbook to suddenly drop from the sky. But then again, this is Dabo Swinney we’re talking about, and expectations at Clemson are always sky-high. But while Dabo’s grilling Cade for supposedly mentally clocking out, a national voice is pulling up for the kid.
National reporter comes through big for Cade Klubnik after a ‘pretty average’ spring practice
On March 19, Emily Proud hosted a chat with Brad Crawford and Dixon Smoke on the 247Sports platform, and Brad wasn’t holding back his praise for Cade. Nah, this man was ready to crown Cade Klubnik as the next big thing. “I ranked the Clemson senior number one. I think he’s going to set an ACC single-season record this season,” Brad said, dropping numbers like he was rolling dice in Vegas. He continued, “Deshaun Watson had 41 touchdown passes… I think Cade has 45 this year en route to a Heisman finalist season.” Bold take? Not really. But let’s be real—Cade’s got the skill set to make it happen.
Brad kept gassing up Klubnik, throwing out stats and comparisons like it was some sort of gospel. “He’s only year three with Garrett Riley as his OC. We saw Klubnik during that loss to Texas, at Texas in the playoff… 350 plus yards, four touchdowns, and he was doing that against some first-round picks in that secondary.” That Texas game was something else, though. Cade put up 336 yards, and three touchdowns, and kept Clemson in the fight against a loaded Texas squad, even if they ended up falling 38-24.
Do you know what that performance says? It says Cade Klubnik’s got ice in his veins. Man went toe-to-toe with his high school rival, Quinn Ewers, and didn’t blink. And all that while dragging Clemson into the playoffs practically by himself. Cade finished the 2024 season with 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, only six picks, and another 463 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Those are straight-up Heisman numbers. And Brad’s not alone in thinking that. Even FOX’s Joel Klatt labeled Klubnik “Superman” after the Texas game, saying the kid was the sole reason Clemson even had a pulse in that matchup.
The man deserved a vacation, plain and simple. And you know what? Dabo Swinney might want to ease up a bit. Sure, spring practice is important, but maybe let the guy blow off some steam. A refreshed Cade Klubnik just might be the best version of Cade Klubnik. And if Brad Crawford’s predictions hold any weight, we’re all about to witness something special when this kid takes the field again.
So yeah, Cade might be 2,382 miles away from Clemson right now, but when he gets back? You better believe he’s coming with that fire. The kid’s got something to prove, and a whole lotta folks are ready to see him do it.
The post Cade Klubnik Blows Off Steam 2,382 Miles From Clemson as National Reporter Drops Bold Take After Spring Warning appeared first on EssentiallySports.
