By Mallory Mattingly
Former Clemson superstar Cade Klubnik keeps his eyes on Jesus after the New York Jets drafted him in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
“I’m pumped, let’s go to work,” he said when the Jets, a team desperate for a starting quarterback, called. “Loved y’all’s staff, loved spending time with y’all. Let’s do it.”
A dream come true for @CadeKlubnikQB 📞#ALLIN | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/lidbY0RYAu
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) April 25, 2026
Related: Clemson University QB Cade Klubnik: ‘God is Incredible’
“[The Jets] saw a competitor in me,” the athlete said in an interview. “And they saw somebody who loves the game and loves winning, and is willing to do anything to go win.”
Klubnik was expected to be a first-round draft pick but dropped after he did not have the season he hoped for this past year.
“I’m thankful for this past year,” he said after his selection. “It wasn’t how I wanted to go out, but I’m thankful for it because I learned how to really attack adversity.”
Before the Draft last week, Klubnik spoke with Sport’s Spectrum on the “What’s Up” podcast where he explained that even through life’s trials, he continues to rest in God.
“God doesn’t promise that life is gonna be easy,” the quarterback said on the podcast before adding, “and He doesn’t promise that everything’s gonna go perfect. But He does promise that He’s gonna be with us every single step of the way, and He promises that His hand is gonna be right there with us. So when I hear those verses, it’s like that’s just confirmation of the way that we should be living.”
Klubnik’s constant reliance on the Lord helps him understand that his identity is not in this world but in the one who created it.
“Just being able to have the realization and the dependability that God is really always there for me is huge, because I know who Jesus says I am,” he continued. “With that, I don’t have to care as much about the opinions of other people.”
“The reason I’m here is just to impact people that I’m around every single day, for the gift of eternity. For the gift of Jesus coming to save us,” he added, when discussing his purpose in life. “That’s really why I’m here. I love football and I’m giving it everything I have every single day, but our main purpose while we’re here is to continue to share the Gospel.”
Even though Klubnik was hoping to be a first-round draft pick, his confidence didn’t waver because he knows that no matter what, his value is in Christ’s finished work on the cross.
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