Despite a rocky season overall for Clemson, Ashton Hampton has put together an outstanding individual campaign, establishing himself as one of the country’s premier shutdown defenders.

The junior Clemson cornerback’s performance recently landed him at No. 23 on ESPN’s list of the top 25 players in college football at midseason.

“In an otherwise forgettable season for Clemson, Hampton has been a star,” ESPN wrote.

ESPN noted that entering Week 8 of the college football season, Hampton had allowed only 62 total yards on 25 targets all season, had given up a measly .33 yards per coverage snap, and was tied for third among all Power 4 cornerbacks in contested targets (17), fourth in completion percentage allowed (24%) and fourth in opponent QBR (1.0).

Hampton currently ranks third nationally in passes defended per game (1.43) and is tied for fourth in the FBS with nine total pass breakups. He has also recorded an interception while tallying 25 tackles, including three for loss, across seven games this season.

Hampton’s stellar play hasn’t just caught the attention of college analysts — NFL evaluators are fully aware of him, too, and he has firmly asserted himself as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. recently ranked Hampton at No. 13 overall on his draft big board (ranking him as the nation’s No. 2 cornerback prospect in the 2027 draft class), while fellow ESPN analyst Field Yates projected Hampton as a top-10 pick at No. 10 overall.

Hampton broke out during his freshman campaign in 2024, when he appeared in all 14 games, made four starts, and earned freshman All-America honors after recording 30 tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions, including one he returned 53 yards for a touchdown.

Hampton followed up his debut season with a strong sophomore season in 2025, locking down a key role in the secondary. He recorded 47 tackles, a sack, an interception and 11 pass breakups while starting all 13 of Clemson’s games.