This week, a couple of Clemson stars on the defensive side of the ball were recognized among the nation’s best players ahead of the upcoming college football campaign.

CBS Sports released a springtime ranking of college football’s best players, and two Tiger defenders — rising senior linebacker Barrett Carter and rising sophomore defensive end T.J. Parker — were ranked among the top 100 players entering the 2024 season.

Carter, a 2022 All-American and 2023 All-ACC selection, checked in at No. 24 overall on the list.

“A versatile three-down ‘backer who likes to play in the opponent’s backfield, Barrett is an explosive and high-ceiling talent who has enormous potential and upside as a former 5-star recruit,” wrote CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer, a former All-American offensive lineman at Texas and first-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 NFL Draft.

“A converted high school safety prospect, Carter has the ability to match up vs. tight ends and backs in coverage and did not allow a touchdown last season. He missed too many tackles, 12, last season in the box and can do a better job of finishing in the run game. Cleaning that up is likely a big reason he returned for his senior season. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is gone, now it’s Carter’s turn to be the star of Clemon’s defense.”

In 2023, Carter ranked second on the team in tackles (67) and was credited with 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery over 12 games (all starts).

The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder enters the 2024 season credited with 170 tackles (21.0 for loss), 9.0 sacks, 15 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over 38 career games (26 starts).

Parker, meanwhile, came in at No. 78 in the CBS Sports ranking following his freshman All-American season last year.

“A top-50 recruit, Parker flashed on film as a freshman and delivered in the stat sheet, generating 5.5 sacks and 37 pressures,” Brockermeyer wrote. “Parker wins with an explosive first step and has the power to work through tackles and finish at the quarterback. He’s solid against the run, too.”

Parker was a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year semifinalist and freshman All-America selection by numerous outlets last season, when (along with the aforementioned 5.5 sacks) he was credited with 41 tackles (12.5 for loss), two pass breakups and a fumble recovery over 13 games (three starts).

Parker’s 12.5 tackles for loss were a school record for a true freshman, breaking the previous mark of 12.0 by Myles Murphy in his debut campaign in 2020. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Parker tied with Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. for the national lead in tackles for loss by freshmen.

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