Klubnik breaks National Outlet’s CFB Quarterback Power Rankings

The national news outlet updated its college football quarterback rankings after the second week of the season, and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik moved up to the top of the rankings after a stellar performance Saturday against App State.

Klubnik was ranked 9th in Tom Fornelli’s latest CFB QB rankings, published by CBS Sports.

Fornelli noted that he ranks quarterbacks based on the “energy” they have now — “it’s a combination of how well you’re playing, what you’ve accomplished and what you can accomplish in the near future,” Fornelli wrote — and noted that he doesn’t rank any quarterback who suffered a loss in the previous week.

With that in mind, here’s what Fornelli wrote about Klubnik in the latest set of point guard power rankings:

I’ve never been shy about sharing my opinion of Klubnik. In short, I’m not particularly impressed with him. Still, even if he got crushed by Georgia and played poorly, I won’t ignore his return to form. Klubnik picked himself up, dusted himself off, and then crushed Appalachian State for 383 yards and seven (7!) touchdowns. I won’t believe it until he does it against top competition, but I’m not a monster either.

Klubnik was not ranked in the CBS Sports QB Power poll before Week 2, but that apparently changed after he shined against App State in one of the most productive and efficient quarterback performances in Clemson and ACC history.

Despite playing only in the first half, he completed 24 of 26 passes for a career-high 378 yards and five passing touchdowns, while also scoring two rushing touchdowns. He left the contest with a passer efficiency rating of 277.9, breaking Tajh Boyd’s school record for a single game with at least 20 attempts (261.9 against Syracuse in 2013).

Klubnik became the first Clemson quarterback to throw for seven touchdowns on both a passing and rushing offense since Boyd’s ACC-record eight against NC State in 2011. According to ESPN Stats & Info, he became the first FBS quarterback in the last 25 years with five or more passing touchdowns, multiple rushing touchdowns and a pass completion rate of 90.0 percent or better in a single game.

Klubnik’s performance earned him his first career ACC weekly honor, as he was named ACC Co-Quarterback of the Week, and was named to the Manning Award All-Stars of the Week and the Davey O’Brien Foundation Great 8 for Week 2. He was also named Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week and Walter Camp Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week.

Klubnik and the Tigers have this weekend off before they return to action in Death Valley on Saturday, September 21 with a game starting at 12:00 p.m. ET against NC State.