CLEMSON – Nearly eight months after his final game in a Clemson uniform, former quarterback Cade Klubnik made his first professional start for the New York Jets in a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night.

Klubnik, a fourth round NFL Draft pick this spring, orchestrated the Jets’ first two scoring drives, completing five of his seven pass attempts for 56 yards. The Austin, Texas, native got the start after presumed starter Geno Smith sat out with a minor injury.

“I was definitely excited,” Klubnik said postgame. “I think the first thing that I kind of thought to myself was that not a lot was going to change. I knew Geno was only going to play maybe eight to 10 plays and I was ready to go in early after that.”

Klubnik became only the third Jets rookie quarterback to make a start in a preseason game, and his longest completion was a 21-yard contested pass to wide receiver and former Ohio State Buckeye Garrett Wilson. The second drive was cut short with a 31-yard touchdown run from Braelon Allen to give the Jets a 10-0 lead at the time.

The squad only scored six more points without Klubnik under center.

“When we watched him in college, he was the same way,” Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said of Klubnik. “Nothing changes. He has some moxie to him. He’s very confident. He’s confident in his arm. He’s confident in his ability to elude and make plays with his feet. And his ability to be able to come out and operate with the first group the way he did, to me, I thought was outstanding.”

Several states south, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was working with his staff ahead of the Tigers’ first fall scrimmage during Klubnik’s opening stint. By the time he got to a television, his former signal-caller was already out of the game after the two quick drives.

“By the time I got to the office, he was out but I texted back and forth with him last night and just proud of him,” Swinney said. “I mean, like I said, he’s going to be a great pro.”

Swinney has long asserted that positive vision for Klubnik’s future, and echoed his confidence in his professional ability after Klubnik’s last start at Clemson — a loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl last December.

“He’s just now scratching what his true potential is going to be and I can’t wait to watch it,” Swinney said after the bowl game. “I think he’s incredibly gifted. He’s incredibly smart. He’s a leader and I love this kid.”

At Clemson, Klubnik made 40 starts for the Tigers, finishing with a 26-14 record. The veteran led the Tigers to two ACC Championships in 2022 and 2024, winning MVP honors in both contests. He finished his career generating 11,001 total yards and the program’s leader in completions and pass attempts. He was a second-team All-ACC honoree and earned honorable mention All-American honors after his best season in 2024.

“(Klubnik’s) gonna play a long time,” Swinney said on Saturday. “He’s a really, really talented quarterback and that’s why he got drafted and they’ve obviously seen that too right out of the gate. So, hopefully he stays healthy. If he does, he’s going to be one of those guys, you look up and he’s played quite a while.” 

With Klubnik’s absence, Swinney will have a different quarterback entering the 2026 season for the first time in three years. Senior Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds are currently battling for the starting role in Clemson’s opener against LSU on Sept. 5 in Tiger Stadium.