A national outlet stacked up the best players in college football heading into the 2026 season, and several Clemson standouts made the list.

Four Tigers landed in CBS Sports’ ranking of college football’s top 150 players, and all four are in the top 84.

Junior linebacker Sammy Brown — who has been named to multiple major national award preseason watch lists and also earned other high-profile national recognition, including most recently being named an ESPN preseason first-team All-American – leads the way among Clemson players with a No. 21 ranking on the CBS Sports list.

“Brown played with his hair on fire throughout 2025 and emerged as the best player on Clemson’s defense,” CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer wrote. “He piled up 106 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and an interception while showing the range to cover sideline to sideline. Brown is athletic enough to spy mobile quarterbacks, match up with running backs and tight ends in coverage and still make an impact as a downhill run defender. One of the nation’s most complete linebackers.”

Clemson junior cornerback Ashton Hampton, a preseason first-team All-ACC selection, cracked the top 50 as well, coming in at No. 49.

Hampton was recently ranked by The Athletic’s lead NFL Draft analyst, Dane Brugler, as the third-best cornerback prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft.

“Clemson has produced a long line of standout cornerbacks, and Hampton looks poised to become the next,” Brockermeyer wrote. “He has the size, fluid hips and change-of-direction ability to excel in press coverage while consistently making plays on the football. Hampton possesses all the traits of a future high NFL Draft pick and could emerge as one of the nation’s best corners this season.”

Clemson junior wide receiver T.J. Moore, who caught 52 passes for four touchdowns and a team-high 837 receiving yards last season, checked in at No. 58.

“Moore has all the tools to emerge as one of the ACC’s top receivers,” Brockermeyer wrote. “The long, rangy target boasts an impressive catch radius, beats press coverage with ease and catches the ball naturally. Comfortable lining up inside or outside, Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr. give Clemson one of the nation’s most talented receiving duos heading into 2026.”

Rounding out the quartet of Clemson players in CBS Sports’ top 150 is edge rusher Will Heldt at No. 84.

A 2026 preseason first-team All-ACC pick, Heldt tallied 48 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble last season after transferring from Purdue. The third-team all-conference selection led Clemson in both sacks and tackles for loss while finishing fourth on the team (and first on the defensive line) in tackles.

“Heldt was Clemson’s most impactful defensive lineman last season on a unit that failed to meet expectations,” Brockermeyer wrote. “The long, crafty edge rusher wins with technique, effort and a high football IQ rather than overwhelming athleticism. Heldt understands blocking schemes and consistently maximizes his ability with sound fundamentals and a relentless motor.”

A slew of players that Clemson is scheduled to face during the 2026 regular season made the top 50 of the CBS Sports ranking:

• Miami WR Malachi Toney (No. 4)
• LSU OT Jordan Seaton (No. 7)
• Miami QB Darian Mensah (No. 13)
• South Carolina edge Dylan Stewart (No. 16)
• Miami RB Mark Fletcher Jr. (No. 20)
• Miami DT Ahmad Moten Sr. (No. 24)
• Florida State WR Duce Robinson (No. 29)
• LSU S Ty Benefield (No. 32)
• Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (No. 35)
• Georgia Tech RB Justice Haynes (No. 39)
• LSU QB Sam Leavitt (No. 42)