Dabo Swinney is bullish on Clemson’s top draft prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, which gets underway next Thursday. In fact, Clemson’s longtime head coach thinks it could be a historic draft for the Tigers.

Swinney said during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show this week that he believes defensive tackle Peter Woods, edge rusher T.J. Parker, cornerback Avieon Terrell and offensive tackle Blake Miller should all hear their names called in the first round.

If that were to happen, it would set a new Clemson record for most players selected in the first round of a single NFL Draft. The current Clemson record for first-round picks in an NFL Draft is three, and that came in 2019 when Clelin Ferrell (No. 4 to Raiders), Christian Wilkins (No. 13 to Dolphins) and Dexter Lawrence (No. 17 to Giants) were selected in the opening round.

“I think both of those guys [Woods, Parker] are for sure first-round talents. You never know what happens with the NFL, how those things go. But both of those guys, and Avieon, and my right tackle, Blake Miller – I think all four of those guys are first-round guys, and I would be shocked if they don’t all hear their name called,” Swinney said.

Swinney broke down the NFL potential of Parker and Woods. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller recently ranked Parker as the No. 27 overall prospect in this year’s draft class and compared him to Baltimore Ravens edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, while Miller ranked Woods as the No. 42 overall draft prospect and compared him to Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.

Miller ranked Woods as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the 2026 draft class and Parker as the fifth-best edge rusher.

“[Parker] and Peter Woods are two big-time D-linemen coming out that I think both should be first-rounders,” Swinney said. “T.J. is a rare combination of size and speed. He’s really powerful. He’s heavy-handed. He is a very smart football player. He and Peter Woods are three-year players at Clemson, true juniors, but they’re also graduates. So, that just shows you how they’ve been able to manage all that comes with being great players, but also great students, handling their business on and off the field.”

A 2023 freshman All-American and 2024 All-ACC selection, Parker piled up 144 tackles (41.5 for loss), 21.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and five pass breakups over 39 games (29 starts) in his Clemson career from 2023-25. He leaves Tigertown ranked 10th in career sacks and tied for fourth in career fumble recoveries, and he set the Clemson record for forced fumbles in a single season with six in 2024.

In 2025, the 6-foot-3, 263-pounder was credited with 39 tackles (9.5 for loss), five sacks, two pass breakups and a team-high three fumble recoveries across 12 games (all starts). He finished the regular season with a flourish, as he was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after collecting four tackles (three for loss), three sacks and a fumble recovery in the rivalry finale at South Carolina.

“T.J., I think he’s got the ability to play on an edge in a true 4-3 scheme. But I think he’s also got some package ability where you could even slide him inside and create some rush problems there,” Swinney said. “But a smart player. Long, can run. He’s got a great combination of being able to bull rush people with his power, but also a good skillset and good tools with his pass-rush techniques.”

Woods was credited with 99 tackles (14.5 for loss), five sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups over 35 games (24 starts) in his Clemson career from 2023-25. Offensively, he also rushed eight times for 15 yards with two rushing touchdowns.

In 2025, he became Clemson’s first All-American at defensive tackle since Christian Wilkins’ unanimous selection in 2018, and he was the only player in America in 2025 to record multiple games with both a sack and a rushing touchdown. The 6-foot-2, 298-pounder was also a first-team All-ACC selection by the league, the AP and Phil Steele.

“Peter is unique,” Swinney said. “You don’t get a chance to coach many guys like Peter Woods, that are on the inside. He should be one of the Mr. Incredibles [fictional superhero]. He is a powerful athlete. … Peter Woods, he played every snap of punt team, every snap of field goal, every snap of field goal block. He played tailback. He played fullback. He did a little bit of everything. I love this kid.”

Terrell, a 2025 All-American and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, 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, and he led all cornerbacks nationally in forced fumbles across his three-year college career.

Miller ranks Terrell as the No. 33 overall prospect in this year’s draft class and the No. 6 cornerback.

“Absolutely he’s a first-rounder,” Swinney said of Terrell, the younger brother of current Atlanta Falcons cornerback and former Clemson star A.J. Terrell “I’ve got a good comparison with his brother, coaching them both, just know he’s wired. He’s a definite first-rounder. What sets him apart is I think he’s a three-position guy. I think he can play certainly both corner spots, but I think he can be an elite nickel corner in the NFL as well.

“He’s a ballhawk. He only played three years here, so he’s a still a developing guy, but he’s the all-time leading caused fumble guy for his position. He just has a knack for getting the ball out. He’s got excellent ball skills. He’s got special teams ability. There’s just a lot that he brings. But he is a gym rat, a high football IQ guy, and he’s still developing. I think he’s got a chance to play a long time. He’s as tough as they come. He’s always available, and somebody’s gonna get a good one.”