Before on-field drills at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine began Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, a panel of ESPN NFL Draft experts broke down some top names to watch at the combine – including a couple of Clemson Tigers.

Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell was named as one player who could “light up” the 40-yard dash.

“If I had to call out a player on defense, I’d keep an eye on Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell. He can fly,” ESPN’s Matt Miller wrote.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jordan Reid made a prediction for combine week involving Clemson’s Blake Miller, saying Miller is one offensive tackle who will “firmly be in the Round 1 picture after this weekend.”

“The buzz coming out of the combine will surround the depth atop the offensive tackle class,” Reid wrote. “I currently have seven players with top-50 grades. (Monroe) Freeling (Georgia), Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) and Blake Miller (Clemson) currently have second-round grades, but I believe all three will firmly be in the Round 1 picture after this weekend. In speaking with multiple scouts and evaluators over the past month, there’s no set order on when they’re expected to come off the board, but tackles will be selected frequently — and early.”

Defensive backs are scheduled to do their on-field workouts at the combine beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, while offensive linemen will work out starting at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Terrell is frequently projected to be a first-round pick in this spring’s draft, which is set to take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, while Miller has gained significant first-round momentum as well.

Longtime ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Terrell as the third-best cornerback in this year’s draft class, while he ranks Miller as the eighth-best offensive tackle.

A 2025 All-American and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, Terrell was credited with 128 tackles (nine for loss), 30 pass breakups, three interceptions, four sacks, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries across 39 games (31 starts) in his career as a Tiger from 2023-25. The two-time All-ACC selection set Clemson records for a defensive back in forced fumbles in a season (five in 2025) and a career (eight), and he led all cornerbacks nationally in forced fumbles across his three-year Clemson career.

Miller broke the Clemson record for career snaps from scrimmage, playing 3,778 offensive snaps over 54 career games (all starts) from 2022-25. A hard-nosed iron man, Miller started every game Clemson played in his entire four-year career and also set the Clemson record for consecutive starts by a non-specialist with 54. He followed his 2022 freshman All-American season with three consecutive All-ACC seasons and joined Mitch Hyatt (four), Jeb Flesch (three) and Tyrone Crowder (three) as the fourth offensive lineman in school history to be a three-time All-ACC honoree.