Cade Klubnik’s Final Clemson Chapter: One More Game, One Last Push
Cade Klubnik stood still for a moment when someone mentioned the word “last.” That word hits differently when you’ve poured four years into a program, into a team, into a jersey that’s become part of your identity.
“Oh, it’s wild,” Klubnik said, almost in disbelief. “It’s wild.”
Four years. That’s how long it’s been since he first walked into Clemson’s facility, wide-eyed and full of promise.
Now, with just one practice left and one final game on deck, the reality is setting in. The end is here - or at least, the end of this chapter.
“I feel like I just had my first time in here with you guys a few weeks ago,” he said. “And I guess it’s been four years and it’s flown by.”
No Opt-Out, No Doubt
In an era where bowl game opt-outs have become common - especially for NFL prospects - Klubnik never wavered. For him, skipping the Pinstripe Bowl was never even on the table.
“I just don’t think that’s something I would ever do, to be honest,” he said.
It wasn’t just about putting more tape out there for scouts. It was deeper than that. This was about love for the game, commitment to his teammates, and finishing what he started.
“I think I can help myself,” Klubnik said. “It’s another game that I get to go play and go help myself for what’s next. But I love football.”
He made it clear: this wasn’t a knock on those who made different choices. In fact, he went out of his way to show love to his teammates who opted out.
“I’ve got a ton of respect for all the guys that aren’t playing,” he said. “They’re my brothers forever. I’m going to be cheering louder than anybody when draft day comes.”
But for Klubnik, this is personal. One more game with the guys he’s gone to battle with. One more chance to lead.
“I really want to play,” he said. “I get to go play with some of my best friends one more time.”
Playing Through the Pain
What fans saw on Saturdays was a quarterback suiting up, taking snaps, and competing. What they didn’t see was the grind behind the scenes - the injuries, the pain, the days when walking was a chore and practice felt like a mountain.
“I don’t think that a lot of people know what I’ve been through,” Klubnik admitted.
He didn’t make excuses. He didn’t broadcast the injuries. But they were there, and they were real.
“My mentality this year was maybe not being able to practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,” he said. “Limping through Thursday and giving everything I have - whether it’s 60% or 70% - to go play on Saturday.”
That’s the quarterback job description in a nutshell: no excuses, just execution.
“At the end of the day, nobody really cares how your body’s feeling,” Klubnik said. “You’ve got a job to go do.”
Now, with some rest under his belt, he’s feeling close to full strength again.
“I felt really good today,” he said. “Dang near 100%.”
No Sleeves, No Excuses
It’s going to be cold in the Bronx. But Klubnik has been preparing for that, too - not by bundling up, but by doing the opposite.
“I’m not going to be wearing sleeves on game day,” he said. “I just want to make everything feel like game day.”
That might sound like a small thing, but it speaks volumes about his mindset. Comfort isn’t the goal - preparation is.
“Just having that feel and fighting through it is definitely a good thing to do,” he said.
Ending on a High Note
Clemson enters the Pinstripe Bowl riding a four-game win streak - a midseason turnaround that has reshaped the tone of the Tigers’ year. Klubnik knows how important it is to keep that momentum rolling.
“I think it’s huge,” he said. “Just sending these guys that are coming back next year on a streak.”
He’s seen what a strong finish can do. Two years ago, Clemson closed the season on a five-game tear that set the tone for the year that followed.
“Look back to what we did two years ago and how that five-game winning streak catapulted us,” Klubnik said.
This time, it’s not just about the program. It’s about finishing his own story the right way.
“I really want to strain to get that finish,” he said. “For the guys coming back, but also just finish well in my career.”
Passing the Torch
Klubnik isn’t just focused on his own exit - he’s also thinking about who comes next. And he’s been paying close attention to Chris Denson, a young quarterback rising through the ranks.
“I have not seen somebody develop in one year like he has,” Klubnik said. “From January to December, it’s been really incredible.”
It’s not just about the arm talent. Klubnik sees the growth in how Denson approaches the game.
“It’s the knowledge of the game,” he said. “The way he’s come every single day and attacked it.”
That’s where Klubnik sees his role now - not just as a leader on the field, but as a mentor.
“I feel like that’s my role - to pour into him,” he said. “And he’s just made so much progress.”
Faith, Pressure, and Perspective
Playing quarterback at Clemson comes with weight - expectations, scrutiny, pressure. Klubnik’s found his anchor in faith.
“My faith is the biggest thing that’s gotten me through any of that,” he said.
He knows what comes with the job - and the program.
“In the position that I play, at the school that I’m at, in this environment - it’s not always easy,” Klubnik said.
But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I would much rather be at a school with high expectations than the other way around,” he said.
A Legacy Beyond the Numbers
As Klubnik prepares to walk across the graduation stage and take the field one last time, he’s not thinking about stats or trophies. He’s thinking about the kind of person he’s been - and the example he’s tried to set.
“I hope they remember the person that I was,” he said. “And hopefully they saw Jesus through me.”
He paused. Reflected. And then summed it up with the kind of clarity that comes only when you’ve left it all out there.
“I feel like I’ve given everything that I have,” Klubnik said. “Because of that, I can leave here with no regrets.”
And that’s why he’s playing one more game. Not for the spotlight.
Not for the scouts. But for the love of the game, the team, and the journey.