“I think he’s going to kill it”: Cade Klubnik backs "wild card" RB as Dabo Swinney’s secret weapon for Clemson’s 2025 push

Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik echoed Dabo Swinney’s thoughts on running back Adam Randall, who switched from wide receiver during the 2024 ACC championship. He set up Clemson’s game-winning field goal, returning a kickoff 41 yards.

Randall’s position switch was made permanent in the off-season, with Swinney expressing confidence in his ability to excel in the new role. The Tigers' coach said:

“Adam is the wildcard; he is the one senior in the room. I think, and y’all know I am not always right," Klubnik said. "But sometimes I am. I really think he will be one of the great college football stories this year. I really believe it. I really believe in Adam Randall.”

Reiterating Swinney’s statement, Klubnik said at the ACC Media Days:

“I love working with Adam Randall. His work ethic is unbelievable. The way that he has taken on this new opportunity and really made it his own and become really good at it already is really fun. It’s really cool. I think he’s going to kill it, man.”

Cade Klubnik voted top quarterback in college football

Cade Klubnik has emerged as one of the early projected Heisman Trophy winners. After his contribution to the Tigers’ ACC championship last season, he is easily one of college football’s top quarterbacks entering the 2025 season. Many would go as far as to project him as the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Klubnik's hype has extended beyond ordinary college football conversations, as he was ranked the No. 1 quarterback in college football by The Athletic. The ranking by Sam Khan Jr. and Antonio Morales is based on a poll of more than 40 coaches and staffers nationwide. The report reads:

“The lack of consensus on a clear-cut No. 1 underscored the unique quarterback this is in college football. There’s no alpha. Garrett Nussmeier, LaNorris Sellers, and DJ Lagway all got No. 1 votes. But Klubnik received the most love from opposing coaches because he checks every box.”

Klubnik started 14 games last season, passing for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns. He rushed for an additional 463 yards and seven touchdowns in 119 carries. He will be pivotal to the team’s playoff aspirations this fall, as he seeks to make his final college football season as impactful as possible.

About the author

Kayode is a College and High School Sports writer at Sportskeeda since June 2023. Hailing from Nigeria, he has an undergraduate degree in Linguistics and African Languages, and has previously had stints as an entertainment and politics writer for around 7 months. Adept at creating content around historical perspectives, he strives to report stories based only on verified information. His mantra is - truth is always more important than sensationalism.

A fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Kayode admires how Nick Saban developed talent at the team and delivered consistent results, and hopes that the post-Saban era is just as fruitful. He is thoroughly impressed by Johnny Manziel’s talent, and feels that Shedeur Sanders is massively underrated. Nick Saban is his all-time favorite college coach.

While Kayode believes there is little to separate college and mainstream sports, pro leagues absorbing the best athletes leads to their quality being higher. Witnessing the Colorado Buffaloes’ hot streak at start the 2023 football season was one of his all-time favorite college sports moments.

When not writing, Kayode enjoys reading and watching sports documentaries. His most recent watch was "Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In."

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Edited by Krutik Jain