CLEMSON – In the last century, nearly 300 former Clemson players have heard their names called in the NFL’s Annual Draft, signaling the end of their time as Tigers and the beginning of their professional careers.

Among these players is Banks McFadden, a halfback and punter who was selected with the fourth pick in the 1940 NFL Draft, after an All-American (three-sport) career at Clemson. In 1979 and 1985, respectively, Tiger greats Jerry Butler and William Perry were taken in the first rounds of the draft before finishing with a combined 18 years of professional experience.

More recently, quarterback Trevor Lawrence was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and cornerback Nate Wiggins marked the Tigers’ latest first-round selection in 2024. 

Now, with a warm breeze in the air and spring football practice concluded, it is time for the next round of Clemson players to hear their names called in the 2026 NFL Draft, adding to the Tigers’ rich history of professional selections.

This year, 17 Clemson players are draft-eligible, the most since 24 Tigers entered their names in 2019. Despite a disappointing 7-6 finish last season, following a preseason No. 4 ranking, Clemson has a chance to tie or best its record-high nine players selected in the seven-round draft era.

“I think we’re gonna get nine players drafted, I really do,” head coach Dabo Swinney said on the Jim Rome Show recently. “I am disappointed that I was not better for those guys because that team was certainly better than its record.”

Four months after the Tigers wrapped up their 2025 campaign, Swinney and his players have a chance to find out how much NFL teams agree with the coach’s assessment of the talent on last season’s squad.

Names to Expect

According to draft boards from ESPN.com, the Athletic, CBS Sports, and several other national outlets, Swinney could be right in believing nine Tigers could be taken across the three-day span. 

Right tackle Blake Miller, a four-year starter and “iron man” for the Tigers across 54 starts, is slated by several outlets (ESPN, PFF) to be a late first-round selection, which would make him the first Clemson offensive lineman selected in the first round since the Common Draft era, which was instituted jointly by the AFL and NFL in 1967. He would be the first Clemson offensive lineman selected in the first round in any era since 1960.

Joining Miller in the first round or the second round could be defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, who are both slated to be late first-round or early second-round selections. Over their three-year careers, respectively, the pair combined for over 200 tackles (nearly 60 for loss), 26.5 sacks, and eight forced fumbles. 

Though both players saw dips in production last season, they both had successful pre-draft performances at the NFL Combine and Clemson’s Pro Day, at which scouts from all 32 professional teams attended.

“[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.”

Aveion Terrell, a cornerback, could also be selected as a late first-round or second round selection. Though he struggled with a nagging hamstring injury that limited his appearances for scouts in recent months, the Atlanta, Ga., native broke up 28 passes in his Clemson career, and was named a 2025 All-American and Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist.

If drafted, Terrell would join his brother, Pro-bowler and Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J., in the NFL as the third pair of brothers drafted out of Clemson in the last 50 years.

“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 of Miller and the trio of defenders.

On the second day, wide receiver Antonio Williams, Clemson’s receptions leader in the last two seasons, is predicted by national outlets to be selected in the second or third rounds. Primarily a slot receiver, Williams brings over three years of playing experience, along with 21 touchdowns and two All-ACC selections.

“A guy like Antonio Williams, when you line up in front of him, you know you have to bring it,” Tigers defensive back Ashton Hampton said of the veteran. “He’s gonna make you lace your cleats up extra tight.”

Four, or even five more former Clemson players have been slated as Day 3 selections. Among them are running back Adam Randall, defensive tackle Demonte Capehart, quarterback Cade Klubnik, offensive lineman Tristan Leigh, and linebacker Wade Woodaz.

The five have a combined 22 years of collegiate experience. Each player was on two ACC Championship teams in 2022 and 2024, and Capehart– a six-year player– won another in 2020.

Randall, Clemson’s primary back who notched 814 rushing yards last season, could be taken in the fifth round or earlier according to analysts at USA Today and the New York Post. Klubnik, his former roommate and a two-time ACC Championship Game MVP, is currently slated as Kiper’s No. 8 signal-caller in the class, and could be taken in the fifth round or later.

“I thought Adam killed it,” Klubnik told TCI in March of Randall’s pre-draft performances. “It was fun to kind of live the dream with those guys and go through our Clemson career. We really have done every step together.”

Capehart, after running a 4.85 40-yard dash at Clemson’s Pro Day, along with a 33.5-inch vertical jump, could have moved all the way up into fourth round according to Pro Football Focus. The Hartsville, S.C., native finished with 13.5 career tackles for loss and an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2024.

Leigh and Woodaz, both mainstays in Clemson’s starting lineup in the last two years, are projected as late-round picks or free agent signs, though both reported meeting with several NFL teams in recent months.

Woodaz came in second in total tackles for the Tigers last season, and ran an impressive 4.52 40 at Clemson’s Pro Day, while Leigh did not give up a sack in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus, and started in all 10 games in which he appeared. 

Tiger Takeaways

Since his interim coaching stint in 2008, Swinney has produced 86 draft picks, the second-most of any active or inactive coach in that span, falling just under college football legend Nick Saban. In that 17-year span, 18 players have come as first-round selections, the second-most under any coach.

Since 2012, Clemson has produced 71 total draft picks, the most of any ACC team and the seventh-most in the nation. Additionally, Clemson has had nine years with five or more players selected in the Draft since 2014, ranking fifth nationally.

“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,” Swinney said.

If, like Swinney believes, four Tigers are taken in the first round, it would mark a new record for Clemson. The program has seen several teammate duos taken in the first round, like Jerry Butler and Steve Fuller in 1979 and Mike Williams and Deshaun Watson in 2017. In 2019, a new school record was set when Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, and Dexter Lawrence were all first-round selections. 

In their combined histories, 31 NFL teams have drafted Tiger players, excluding the Carolina Panthers, though the team played its inaugural season in Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. The New York Giants lead all teams with 18 Tiger selections in franchise history, and the Steelers trail close behind with 17 Clemson selections.

The New England Patriots have not selected a player from Clemson since 1991.

Clemson is only one of six schools to have multiple players selected in each draft class in the last 23 years.

How to Watch

Clemson Draft hopefuls announced this week that they will all be watching the draft, awaiting their names, from the comfort of their own celebrations. Similarly, fans can watch all three days of action on the NFL Network, ESPN, and ABC. 

A radio broadcast will be available on ESPN Radio and Sirius XM. 

Day 1 of the NFL Draft will start Thursday at 8 p.m., in Pittsburgh, Pa., and the subsequent rounds will start at noon on Friday and Saturday, respectively.