Ahead of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, which is set to kick off this weekend, ESPN ranked the top 50 players among the teams in the playoff.
The list features five Clemson players, led by sophomore defensive end T.J. Parker at No. 17 overall.
“The sophomore defensive end made a huge impact along the Tigers’ front, with 19 tackles for loss to rank No. 6 in the country, and 11 sacks to rank No. 11,” ESPN wrote. “His performance in the second half of the season is where he really made his mark. In his past seven games, Parker has 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 16 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage and 32 tackles — including eight and 3.5 tackles for loss in the ACC championship game.”
Junior quarterback Cade Klubnik is the next highest-ranked Clemson player at No. 26.
“Consistency was the biggest issue for Klubnik in his first season as Clemson’s starter in 2023, but he has been a steady performer week in and week out, particularly when it comes to using his legs,” ESPN wrote. “Klubnik rushed for 458 yards and seven touchdowns this season to go with more than 3,300 yards passing. His 33 touchdown throws rank third nationally, his 6.60 TD-to-INT ratio was best in FBS, and his 78.9 Total QBR ranks third among playoff QBs, trailing only Dillon Gabriel and Carson Beck.”
Clemson senior linebacker Barrett Carter checked in at No. 31, a few spots ahead of Tigers sophomore defensive lineman Peter Woods at No. 35.
“Carter opted to return to Clemson for one season, and the move paid off,” ESPN wrote. “A Butkus Award finalist and first-team All-ACC selection, Carter again made an impact on defense. Carter racked up 76 total tackles — including 10.5 tackles for loss while adding seven pass breakups and seven passes defended. There’s a reason coach Dabo Swinney calls him ‘one of the best pure football players I’ve had in 20 years.’”
“He’s 315 pounds of pure O-lineman-eating machine, and this season, Clemson lined him up on the edge,” ESPN wrote regarding Woods. “The results were mixed. Woods finished the regular season with only three sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, battling some injuries along the way and sitting out two games. But the upside remains incredible. Woods moves like a player half his size, and even when he’s not making the sack, he’s commanding the attention of opposing offenses, often freeing up rush lanes for his partner in crime, T.J. Parker. In the opener against Texas, he’ll probably have his share of head-to-head battles with Kelvin Banks, setting up one of the most intriguing matchups of the postseason.”
Clemson sophomore wide receiver Antonio Williams rounded out ESPN’s ranking as the 50th overall player in the CFP.
“After a breakout freshman season in 2022, Williams missed all but five games last year,” ESPN wrote. “The time away did little to hamper his development, however, and he returned in 2024 with a vengeance. He finished the season as the only player in the country with at least 800 receiving yards, 100 rushing yards and 100 punt return yards, and he also added a passing touchdown to his résumé, too. Williams was Clemson’s most consistent receiver, catching 10 touchdown passes and hauling in at least five passes in each of the Tigers’ final six games. His 18-yard grab on the final scrimmage play of the ACC championship game set up the game-winning field goal that launched Clemson into the playoff.”
The Tigers (10-3) are the No. 12 seed in the playoff and are set to face fifth-seeded Texas (11-2) in the CFP First Round Game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium this Saturday (4 p.m. ET, TNT).
Four Texas players made ESPN’s CFP player ranking, including junior offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (No. 5), senior defensive back Jahdae Barron (No. 7), sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (No. 9), and senior defensive back/former Tiger Andrew Mukuba (No. 24).