While Clemson’s Cade Klubnik dominated late-season headlines, CBS Sports analyst Emory Hunt makes a compelling case for Georgia Tech’s Haynes King as the ACC’s premier quarterback.
Hunt’s argument centers on consistency over flash, reliability over statistics, and King’s proven ability to perform under pressure throughout the entire 2024 campaign.
Hunt’s Case: Why Haynes King Outshines Cade Klubnik in Crucial Moments
Hunt once said that King is “the best quarterback in the ACC.” This statement has forced the experts to reconsider their pre-season beliefs in college football. Hunt’s statement focused on King’s consistency in pressure handling, which he has shown throughout the entire season of 2024.
“So for me, it’s about Haynes King. I think he’s the best quarterback in the ACC. He’s battle-tested,” Hunt explained during a recent CBS Sports HQ segment.
When pressed about his preference over Klubnik, Hunt brings out the consistency factor.
“Give me the quarterback that’s not afraid of pressure and that’s pressure of the defense, pressure of the situation, pressure of the moment,” Hunt said.
Hunt acknowledged Klubnik’s strong finish but showed the fundamental difference.
“Not saying [Cade] Klubnik, what he put together the last three games and also into the postseason wasn’t impressive,” Hunt said. “That’s why I’ve turned the tide against Klubnik and said, ‘Hey, this guy actually has it.’ But King was showing week in and week out, time and time again. So that’s why I have King ahead of Klubnik.”
King’s 2024 campaign was consistent. He registered a 72.9% completion rate, 2,114 passing yards, and only two interceptions. His dual-threat capability brought in 587 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Klubnik finished with superior overall numbers, throwing for 3,639 passing yards and 36 touchdowns. But his breakthrough came primarily in the final stretch of last season, raising questions about his reliability over a full campaign.
Hunt’s supporting evidence includes Georgia Tech’s competitive showings against elite opponents.
“We saw them last year go toe-to-toe with a lot of big teams on their schedule,” Hunt said. “They should have beaten Georgia. They did knock off Miami.”
Although Klubnik outperformed King, the Georgia Tech quarterback’s high standards in every game are what made him be labeled as the ACC’s most reliable quarterback in the tough spots of the games, therefore favoring him for the conference honors ahead of the star signal caller from Clemson.
