CLEMSON – The pageantry. The tears. The cheers. Excitement and anxieties, handshakes and hugs. 

All of the emotions, a culmination of years of hard work and months of especially vigorous regimens, will be on display in just a few weeks, when 257 football players hear their name called at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.

This year, 17 Draft-hopefuls showcased their skills in Clemson’s Pro Day, marking the largest number of participants in the event since 2019, when 24 Tigers took part. That season, three Clemson defensive linemen – Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, and Dexter Lawrence – were selected in the first round, and three other Tigers were selected in the later rounds. 

“It’s special, because as you know, not everybody’s going to get a chance to play in the NFL, so we celebrate those guys,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said back in 2021.

Now, seven years after the six-pick draft class, national analysts predict several Clemson players will hear their name called from April 23-25.

The Clemson Insider has a breakdown of when experts predict Clemson players could be selected, and potential teams that could snag Clemson veterans.

Blake Miller, Offensive Tackle, 6-7, 318 pounds

After being a four-year starter at Clemson, never missing a game or even a practice, right tackle Blake Miller has earned a name for himself in draft circles. Standing just under 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 318 pounds, Miller may be the most highly regarded Clemson prospect among NFL reporters and analysts. 

ESPN, NFL.com, and CBS Sports all have Miller slated as a late first-round pick two weeks ahead of the draft, ranging between picks No. 22-31. If Miller is selected early, as most projections anticipate, he would become the first Clemson offensive lineman since Lou Cordileone in 1960 (pick No. 12 by the New York Giants) to be drafted in the first round.

On April 6, ESPN analyst Jordan Reid went as far as to predict Miller would be the first Tiger taken in the draft, ahead of several other potential first-day draftees.

“I honestly would go with Blake Miller, just because there’s no stains on his resume right now,” Reid said when asked about Clemson players.

While Miller told Sports Illustrated last week that he has talked to “just about” every NFL team ahead of the draft, the veteran could fill an immediate need for a few teams.

For example, the New England Patriots are looking to build up a young offensive line by adding a versatile right tackle and the Los Angeles Chargers, under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, are looking for athletic size on their O-line. Both teams hold mid-to-late first round picks, where Miller is slated.

Antonio Williams, Wide Receiver, 5-11, 189 pounds

Clemson’s two-time All-ACC wide receiver Antonio Williams is headed to the draft following his redshirt junior season with the Tigers. In his Clemson career, Williams recorded 2,336 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, throwing a few in his own right as well. 

Injuries plagued Williams, an Irmo, S.C., native at times in his career, including his final season. Still, earlier predictions from ESPN and NFL.com this year had him as a first round talent. However, The Athletic and PFF now state Williams as a late second-round pick, coming in at No. 68 and 69, respectively. 

“Williams is a quick, precise slot-only receiver with strong separation metrics but a low average depth of target,” PFF said in a scouting report released this week. “His special-teams experience supports his projection as a depth receiver.”

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper currently has Williams as his No. 11 wide receiver in the class, and with two late second-round picks, the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers could be two teams to watch to take Clemson’s veteran. The Patriots are looking for shifty receivers after releasing star Stefon Diggs, and the Steelers are also looking to add depth in that room.

Peter Woods, Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 302 pounds

Peter Woods, a second-team All-American last season for Clemson, has proven to be one of the most polarizing prospects in this year’s draft cycle. Some sites, like CBS Sports, have the defensive tackle going as early as pick No. 18, while others have seen him drop to the late first round or second round after reduced stats at Clemson last year.

As a sophomore, Woods notched 22 solo tackles, with 8.5 for loss and three sacks. As a junior, he finished with 27 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Granted, the Alabaster, Ala., native faced double teams in most all of the 12 games he started, but the shift in production has piqued questions among scouts.

Still, Kiper has Woods as his first defensive tackle off the board.

“The reason why I went Woods is because No. 1, he’s a guy you roll the dice and hope he can become what you thought he was going to be at Clemson, which was a dominant player,” Kiper said. “Well then you say, ‘If he wasn’t dominant at Clemson, how could he be in the NFL?’ Well, the talent of Peter Woods is through the roof.”

Both the Chargers and the Minnesota Vikings are looking to add stability and juice to their defensive lines and hold late first-round picks. Woods could potentially fall into either teams’ open hands.

T.J. Parker, Defensive End, 6-3, 255 pounds

Another interesting prospect from Clemson’s defensive line is T.J. Parker, an edge rusher who just wrapped up his third year with the Tigers. Similarly to Woods, Parker was a highly-touted high school recruit out of Alabama, and had a dominant sophomore season that put him in Top-10 pick conversations ahead of the 2025 season.

After recording just five sacks in 2025 to 11 his sophomore season, and 25 fewer tackles as an upperclassman, Parker, too, has fallen on many draft boards. As of early April, CBS Sports still has Parker No. 23 on its board, but he has fallen to the second round in several other projections, including one by NFL.com

“Parker was projected to be a top-10 player coming into the season, and he didn’t live up to that,” a story by Nate Christensen of Yahoo Sports said. “His 2025 tape showed some of the limitations of his ceiling.”

Still, Christensen notes that Parker’s ceiling could be higher than many scouts realize. The Kansas City Chiefs, who are in need of an immediate starter, and the Commanders, in need of size, could be teams to take Parker with late first round or early second round picks.

Avieon Terrell, Cornerback, 5-11, 180-pounds

Avieon Terrell, a former cornerback for Clemson and an NFL legacy, is also in an interesting position ahead of the draft. Though Terrell comes in at under six feet, he punched above his size at Clemson, breaking up 25 passes and forcing eight fumbles in three seasons with the Tigers.

Terrell’s “ball-hawk” style and obvious toughness landed him as an early first round pick on many draft boards after the 2025 season, but a nagging hamstring injury kept the defensive back from completing a 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, at Clemson’s Pro Day, and in a scheduled private workout, after he tweaked his leg again.

Still, some sites like CBS Sports and USA Today have Terrell as a No. 18 or 19 pick, while others have him going later in the first round or in the second round after health concerns. 

Terrell could end up as a late first round pick with the Seattle Seahawks, who are looking to strengthen their secondary, or with the Panthers to join a younger core. Both teams have late first round picks.

Cade Klubnik, Quarterback, 6-2, 207 pounds

Entering the 2025 season, quarterback Cade Klubnik was thought of as a shoe-in to be a first round selection. The signal-caller was coming up on his third year as a starter for the Tigers, and had just earned his second ACC Championship Game MVP Award en route to a College Football Playoff appearance. 

The senior’s final season in the Upstate of South Carolina did not turn out as expected, however. Klubnik’s passing yardage, completion and touchdown numbers decreased significantly, and Clemson fell to an abysmal 7-6 record. Klubnik also missed his first game as a starter against SMU due to an ankle injury that kept him limited for several more games.

With those struggles, Klubnik’s projection has fallen significantly, with Kiper and Reid both ranking the Austin, Texas, native as their eighth-best quarterback in the draft class. ESPN has Klubnik as the No. 99 pick, or a fourth round pick on Day 2. 

“Klubnik has stretches of hot and cold play throughout games, similar to a streaky 3-point shooter,” Reid said of Klubnik. “His clean throwing release allowed him to distribute the ball evenly to all his targets in the underneath areas the Tigers operated in.”

Interest is certainly there, however, as Klubnik told TCI last week that he has talked to almost every NFL team since the Combine on March 2. Though the veteran feels “in the dark” about where he could end up, he could become a steal and a project for a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers with a returning, tenured quarterback ahead of him.

Adam Randall, Running Back/Athlete, 6-3, 231 pounds

If there is any player that has boosted his draft stock since the 2025 season ended, it is wide-receiver-turned-running-back Adam Randall. The former five-star recruit as a wideout, switched to running back ahead of his senior season. 

The Myrtle Beach, S.C., native ran for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final year at Clemson. The self-proclaimed “positionless player,” also caught three touchdowns, more than his three previous seasons combined.

Additionally, Randall wowed staffers at the NFL Combine with a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, and a 1.6-second 10-yard split. At Clemson’s Pro Day, Randall ran routes with Klubnik, proving that he can fill any need a professional team may have. 

“Leaving Clemson Pro Day. My biggest takeaway? Some team is going to get an absolute steal in RB Adam Randall,” Reid tweeted on March 12. “He has aced the pre-draft process. Considering he’s a converted WR, his upside as a do-it-all weapon and return specialist are immense.”

Randall told TCI that he scheduled a private workout with the Commanders, who hold first, second, and fourth round picks. He also met with the Patriots and Texans, who each have multiple mid-round picks. All three teams are looking to add an athletic utility player.

Still, most Draft boards have the back slotted as a fifth or sixth round pick. If taken on the second or third day, some team could have a steal in their arsenal.

Demonte Capehart, Defensive Tackle, 6-5, 312 pounds

Defensive lineman Demonte Capehart generated some ‘oohs and ahhs’ at the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.85 40-yard dash after weighing in at 312 pounds.

The physical defender, described as a “violent” player, came in as a five-star recruit in 2020, but dealt with injuries throughout his career. He finished a healthy 2025 season with 20 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and seven quarterback pressures after fighting his way back onto the field.

Though Capehart is not expected to be selected in the first few rounds like Woods or Parker, he has generated some buzz after the combine and a successful final season with the Tigers. Yahoo Sports has the Hartsville, S.C., native as a Day 3 pick, though some metrics suggest his athleticism could land him higher.

NFL.com has the lineman slotted as a “good backup with potential to be a starter,” and a solid overall grade. 

Many teams could benefit from a rotational piece in Capehart, and with later picks, the Tampa Bay Bucks or Kansas City Chiefs could be teams to watch for his services.

Wade Woodaz, Linebacker, 6-3, 234 pounds

Clemson’s veteran linebacker Wade Woodaz is also a draft-hopeful this year. Woodaz started in 30 games for the Tigers over a four-year career, notching 111 tackles (28.5 for loss) across 51 games played.

Woodaz may have boosted his Draft stock at Clemson’s Pro Day, running a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash, which would have been one of the fastest at the combine, despite dealing with a shoulder injury. Woodaz is currently projected as a late-round pick, or a free agent by sites including ESPN. Others have him as a selection in the 130 to 200 range.

“(Woodaz is a) two-year starter who punches in and goes to work but fails to stamp games with high-level impact,” analyst Lance Zierlein said of Clemson’s veteran backer.

Woodaz told TCI he has talked with several teams that hold late round picks, including the Seattle Seahawks and the Commanders, but knows he could end up anywhere. And with his skillset, he could be a rotational asset to most any team.