On Tuesday, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced its 2023 Freshman All-America Team, recognizing 32 players for their standout seasons.
Clemson and Georgia led the FWAA Freshman All-America Team with three selections each, while the ACC topped all conferences with seven selections.
For the Tigers, a trio of defenders were honored on the Freshman All-America Team in defensive linemen Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, and safety Khalil Barnes.
This marks the first time Clemson has had three freshman honorees in a single season by the FWAA, which has selected a freshman All-America team since the 2001 season.
Woods, who entered Clemson as ESPN’s No. 9 overall prospect, was credited with 27 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a forced fumble in 307 snaps over 12 games (two starts). The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder was also credited by the coaching staff with 10 quarterback pressures, the most of any Tiger defensive tackle.
Parker, who arrived at Clemson as 247Sports’ No. 44 overall prospect in the country, finished the 2023 campaign with 41 tackles (12.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 457 snaps over 13 games (three starts). The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder’s 12.5 tackles for loss broke Clemson’s true freshman record (12.0 by Myles Murphy in 2020) and tied for the national lead among freshmen.
Barnes posted 41 tackles (5.0 for loss), six pass breakups, a team-high three interceptions, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery (which he returned 42 yards for a touchdown) in 499 snaps over 13 games (seven starts), becoming the first Clemson player in the Dabo Swinney era to record multiple forced fumbles and multiple interceptions in a freshman season. The 6-foot, 195-pounder was one of three players in the country (and the only freshman) with at least three interceptions, three or more forced fumbles and one sack in 2023.
You can see the full 2023 FWAA Freshman All-America Team below:
OFFENSE (13)
QB Noah Fifita, Arizona (5-11, 195, RFr., Huntington Beach, Calif.)
RB Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan (5-11, 210, RFr., Aurora, Ill.)
RB Makhi Hughes, Tulane (5-11, 205, RFr., Birmingham, Ala.)
WR Nic Anderson, Oklahoma (6-4, 207, RFr., Katy, Texas)
WR Pofele Ashlock, Hawaii (6-2, 175, Fr., Euless, Texas)
WR Eric Singleton Jr., Georgia Tech (5-11, 173, Fr., Douglasville, Ga.)
WR Eugene Wilson III, Florida (5-10, 170, Fr., Tampa, Fla.)
TE Arlis Boardingham, Florida (6-3, 248, RFr., Van Nuys, Calif.)
T Earnest Greene III, Georgia (6-4, 320, RFr., Los Angeles, Calif.)
T Francis Mauigoa, Miami (6-6, 330, Fr., Ili’ili, American Samoa)
G Cayden Green, Oklahoma (6-5, 316, Fr., Lee’s Summit, Mo.)
G Shadre Hurst, Tulane (6-2, 305, RFr., Cartersville, Ga.)
C Parker Brailsford, Washington (6-2, 275, Mesa, Ariz.)
DEFENSE (14)
DL Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (6-3, 270, Fr., Miami, Fla.)
DL TJ Bush, Liberty (6-2, 255, Fr., Woodridge, Va.)
DL Nate Johnson, App State (6-5, 230, Fr., Gaffney, S.C.)
DL T.J. Parker, Clemson (6-3, 255, Fr., Phenix City, Ala.)
DL Peter Woods, Clemson (6-2, 315, Fr., Alabaster, Ala.)
LB CJ Allen, Georgia (6-1, 235, Fr., Barnesville, Ga.)
LB Anthony Hill, Texas (6-3, 234, Fr., Denton, Texas)
LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech (6-3, 230, RFr., Haslet, Texas)
LB Cade Uluave, California (6-1, 230, Fr., South Jordan, Utah)
CB D’Angelo Ponds, James Madison (5-9, 162, Fr., West Park, Fla.)
CB Raion Strader, Miami (Ohio) (6-0, 180, Fr., Pittsburgh, Pa.)
S Khalil Barnes, Clemson (6-0, 195, Fr., Athens, Ga.)
S Caleb Downs, Alabama, 6-0 (203, Fr., Hoschton, Ga.)
S Dillon Thieneman, Purdue (6-0, 205, Fr., Westfield, Ind.)
SPECIALISTS (5)
K Peyton Woodring, Georgia (5-10, 175, Fr., Lafayette, La.)
P Ryan Eckley, Michigan State (6-2, 205, RFr., Lithia, Fla.)
KR DeAndre Buchannon, Georgia Southern (5-11, 175, Fr., Atlanta, Ga.)
PR Zacharia Branch, USC (5-10, 175, Fr., Las Vegas, Nev.)
AP Kevin “KC” Concepcion, NC State (5-11, 187, Fr., Charlotte, N.C.)
Schools: Clemson 3, Georgia 3, Florida 2, Miami 2, Oklahoma 2, Tulane 2, Alabama 1, App State 1, Arizona 1, California 1, Georgia Southern 1, Georgia Tech 1, Hawaii 1, James Madison 1, Liberty 1, Miami (Ohio) 1, Michigan State 1, NC State 1, Purdue 1, Texas 1, Texas Tech 1, USC 1, Washington 1, Western Michigan 1.
Conferences: ACC 7, SEC 6, Big 12 4, Pac-12 4, Sun Belt 3, American Athletic 2, Big Ten 2, Mid-American 2, CUSA 1, Mountain West 1, Independents 0.
True Freshmen: 22; Redshirt Freshmen: 10.