Jordan Leggett didn’t hold back this weekend, and Clemson fans definitely noticed.
The former Tigers tight end - a national champion and one of the most reliable pass-catchers from the program’s golden era - took to social media with a blunt message aimed squarely at quarterback Cade Klubnik:
**“Goodbye Cade!!
2 touchdown opportunities 2 terribly thrown passes.” **
That post, fired off Saturday night, wasn’t just another frustrated fan venting online. This was a respected voice from Clemson’s championship past weighing in on a quarterback whose senior season has been a rollercoaster of high expectations and uneven results.
A Frustrating Finish for Klubnik
Klubnik, who was honored during Senior Day and has already said the Furman game would be his last in Death Valley, has spent the year walking a tightrope between promise and inconsistency. At times, he’s shown the poise and leadership you want from a veteran QB. But too often, especially in key red-zone moments, the execution hasn’t matched the potential.
Leggett’s criticism came after Klubnik missed two clear scoring opportunities - two throws that could’ve changed the complexion of the game, and maybe even the narrative around his final stretch in orange. Instead, they became the latest data points in a season where Clemson’s offense has struggled to finish drives and capitalize on momentum.
A Championship Voice Speaks Out
What makes Leggett’s comments sting - and resonate - is who they’re coming from. This isn’t just a former player with a Twitter account.
Leggett was part of the team that brought Clemson back to the mountaintop. He knows what elite quarterback play looks like.
He caught passes from Deshaun Watson in the biggest moments. So when he speaks on the standard, people listen.
And this wasn’t the first time.
Leggett’s been vocal about Klubnik for a while now. After a 2023 loss to NC State, he tweeted that he’d “seen enough of #2 at QB for Clemson.”
Then again this fall, after a surprise loss to Syracuse, he called for a change under center:
**“PLEASE PUT THE BACKUP IN @ClemsonFB.”
**
Each of those moments sparked conversation, but this latest post - “Goodbye Cade!!” - felt like the culmination of two years of simmering frustration. It wasn’t subtle.
It wasn’t sugarcoated. It was a championship alum drawing a clear line between the program’s current struggles and the standard he helped establish.
A Program at a Crossroads
Clemson now finds itself in an interesting place. Klubnik is on his way out, and while the team still has talent, the offensive identity is murky. The Tigers are searching for answers - and for the next leader who can restore the kind of consistency that defined the program during its title runs.
Leggett’s message, intentional or not, taps into a deeper tension: the gap between what Clemson was and what it’s trying to become again. For fans, it’s a reminder of the expectations that come with wearing that jersey. For the coaching staff, it’s a signal that former players - especially those who helped build the modern Clemson brand - are watching closely.
And for Klubnik, it’s a tough but honest reflection of a career that never quite reached the heights many hoped it would.
As Clemson turns the page, the conversation sparked by Leggett’s tweet won’t fade quickly. Not because it was harsh - but because it came from someone who’s been there, done that, and still cares deeply about what comes next.