Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian had high praise for Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik during a media session on Sunday, following the announcement that No. 5 Texas would face No. 12 Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, December 21, in Austin.
Sarkisian’s admiration for Klubnik comes as no surprise, given his efforts to recruit the young quarterback out of Westlake High School in Austin. Sarkisian reflected on Klubnik’s competitive nature and leadership, which he had observed even in high school.
Klubnik has put together an impressive career since arriving at Clemson. Over three seasons, he has completed 633 of 997 passes for 6,844 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. Additionally, he has rushed for 779 yards on 273 carries, scoring 13 touchdowns. Sarkisian expressed his respect for Klubnik’s determination and skill set. “Big fan of Cade,” Sarkisian remarked. “We recruited him hard. Obviously a local kid. He has an incredible competitive spirit, and you could see that when he was playing at Westlake. He’s a winner. He does whatever it takes—whether it’s throwing the ball, running it, or even blocking. He’ll do anything necessary to put his team in the best position to succeed. That Westlake team was incredibly talented, featuring players like Michael Taaffe, among many others.”
Sarkisian went on to admit that he was “surprised” when Klubnik committed to Clemson as a five-star recruit in the 2022 class. Considering Klubnik’s roots in Austin and his family’s ties to Texas A&M, Sarkisian didn’t expect him to leave the state. “When he chose to go to Clemson, I was honestly surprised,” Sarkisian said. “Both of his parents went to Texas A&M, and we were the hometown team. Plus, he had always dreamed of playing at Clemson. I think it’s a really cool story—he’s heading to the College Football Playoff, and the first-round game is in Austin, right back where he grew up. There are a lot of interesting storylines for this game, and his is certainly one of the biggest.”
The upcoming matchup is full of intriguing narratives, not the least of which is Klubnik’s return to his hometown for a high-stakes playoff contest. Sarkisian acknowledged the significance of the game’s setting, as it offers Klubnik an opportunity to perform on a national stage in front of a familiar crowd. This adds even more excitement to what is already expected to be an intense and competitive game between two highly ranked teams.
