David Pollack is very high on Clemson’s Cade Klubnik.
So high, in fact, that Pollack believes Klubnik is the best returning quarterback from Top 25 college football teams.
In an episode of See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack, the ex-ESPN analyst and former Georgia/NFL linebacker gave who he sees as the top returning quarterbacks – solely from teams that ended the 2024 season in the final College Football Playoff rankings.
Pollack ranked Klubnik at No. 1 on the list.
“I’ve seen Klubnik throw for 3,600 yards and 36 touchdowns and almost 500 yards rushing. I know his system is going to be very good. I know he’s going to put up numbers,” said Pollack, a College Football Hall of Famer, three-time All-American and first-round NFL draft pick.
“I know his receivers across the board are really good. I think his numbers are going to be closer to 4,000. I think he’ll break 40 touchdowns. I think his rushing will be really, really good, and I think at the end of the day, his numbers on this list, he’s going to prove to be the best quarterback.”
As a junior last season, Klubnik completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns with six interceptions, while rushing for 463 yards and seven more scores on the ground.
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 last season 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 enters 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.
You can see Pollack’s top six returning QBs from Top 25 College Football Playoff teams below.
Clemson is slated to face two of them during the 2025 regular season in South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and SMU’s Kevin Jennings.
- Clemson’s Cade Klubnik
- Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt
- South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers
- Nico Iamaleava (former Tennessee QB is now set to enter the NCAA transfer portal)
- Penn State’s Drew Allar
- SMU’s Kevin Jennings