Star Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is an outstanding leader with an incredible work ethic. Just ask Barrett Carter, who witnessed the work that Klubnik puts in each and every day, as well as how he doesn’t shy away from holding teammates – like Carter himself – accountable.

The former Clemson All-American linebacker joined Clemson alums Kelly Gramlich and Eric Mac Lain on the Gramlich & Mac Lain show, and shared a story about Klubnik that he hadn’t told before.

“I love sharing this story about Cade,” Carter said. “A lot of guys like to say they’re going to be the first one in, the last one out. Cade truly is the epitome of that. Like, I’ve never said this story…

“This past semester, we have our lifts throughout the season. So there’s a 6:30, a 7:30 and an 8:30 and a 1:30, and me, I had no class. I graduated in December. I had nothing to do. So, I’m going to get as much sleep as possible, right. I’m going to go to that 8:30. I’m going to sleep in and go to the 8:30.”

That wasn’t going to fly with Klubnik.

At the beginning of the 2024 season, Klubnik got on Carter about going to the 8:30 a.m. lift.

“I remember, I think it was Week 1 against Georgia, I went to the 8:30, and I think Cade was finishing up in the 6:30, and he pressed me for going at 8:30,” Carter recalled. “And he was being dead serious. He wasn’t kidding around.

“He actually like, he was like, ‘Are you really about to like – we’ve all been lifting at 6:30, 7:30, and you’re really about to go to the 8:30?’ He actually pressed me about that. I was like, wow.”

A hard worker himself, Carter added that he was one of the last players to leave Clemson’s facility on a given day, but when he would eventually head out, Klubnik was still there.

“Seeing what he did that season, this past season, I’m like, how you do anything is how you do everything. And Cade was truly the first one in the building and last one to leave,” Carter said. “Like, I was one of the last ones to leave, but whenever I would leave, I’m seeing Cade’s grey pickup truck still in the parking lot. He’s up top watching film, doing his thing.”

Klubnik’s tireless work ethic clearly paid off last season.

The former five-star prospect from Texas enjoyed a career year, finishing as one of two quarterbacks in the country to throw for more than 3,500 yards and run for 400 last season. Klubnik also finished second nationally in total touchdowns with 43. He was third nationally in touchdown passes with 36, and his six interceptions were second fewest among quarterbacks who threw 28 or more touchdown passes in 2024.

Klubnik’s performance guided the Tigers back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020. He also led Clemson to another ACC Championship, while he earned his second MVP award in the title game, becoming only the third player ever to win multiple ACC Championship Game MVP honors.

“I think that’s just a testament to why he had the season that he had, truly just representing Clemson in that way – I’m gonna be the first one in the building, I’m gonna hold guys accountable,” Carter said. “I don’t care who you are. You can be the senior leader, whatever. You can be the senior captain leader, I’m still gonna call you out. And he was the last one to leave the building every single night. And he was consistent with that the whole year.”