With the 2025 NFL season now behind us and the offseason underway, Dane Brugler — a national writer for The Athletic covering the NFL Draft — updated his rankings of the top 100 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class, based on 2025 game tape and recent college all-star games.
Five Clemson draft prospects made Brugler’s top 100, led by cornerback Avieon Terrell at No. 18.
A 2025 All-American and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, Terrell 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 (eight), and he led all cornerbacks nationally in forced fumbles across his three-year Clemson career.
“Terrell is a fluid, easy mover with light footwork in his pedal and read-and-drive reactions. He crowds receivers up and down the field and displays instinctive qualities to find and play the football,” Brugler wrote.
“You would have liked to see more interceptions from him, but he posted impactful production the past two seasons (combined 25 passes defended, eight forced fumbles) and plays with a ‘Honey Badger’ aura.”
The next Clemson player in Brugler’s rankings is defensive tackle Peter Woods, coming in at No. 33.
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. He was a freshman All-American in 2023, and in 2025, he became Clemson’s first All-American at defensive tackle since Christian Wilkins’ unanimous selection in 2018. Woods was the only player in America in 2025 to record multiple games with both a sack and a rushing touchdown.
“Woods moves with big-man twitch and the foot quickness to elude blocks in tight quarters. However, for a player with his explosive traits, he doesn’t have many quick wins on his tape and needs to learn how to diversify his rush approach,” Brugler wrote.
“His motor and scheme flexibility are floor-raising qualities.”
Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker isn’t far behind Woods, with Parker checking in at No. 36 in Brugler’s rankings.
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.
“Parker is at his best when he finds a runway and uses his get-off, forward lean and length to drive blockers backward into the laps of quarterbacks,” Brugler wrote. “His speed-to-power attack is formidable, but NFL blockers will be expecting it — how he develops his setup and secondary rush will determine his pro ceiling.”
Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller also landed inside the top 50, at No. 42.
Miller broke the Clemson record for career snaps from scrimmage, playing 3,778 offensive snaps over 54 career games (all starts) from 2022-25. A hard-nosed iron man, Miller started every game Clemson played in his entire four-year career and also set the Clemson record for consecutive starts by a non-specialist with 54. He followed his 2022 freshman All-American season with three consecutive All-ACC seasons and joined Mitch Hyatt (four), Jeb Flesch (three) and Tyrone Crowder (three) as the fourth offensive lineman in school history to be a three-time All-ACC honoree.
“Another polarizing prospect. Miller plays too upright, but his quickness up the arc and physical demeanor in the run game help him get the job done,” Brugler wrote.
“Bottom line: NFL teams will always bet on offensive linemen with Miller’s combination of physical traits, competitive toughness and remarkable football character.”
Rounding out the Clemson Tigers in Brugler’s rankings is wide receiver Antonio Williams at No. 61.
A two-time All-ACC selection, Williams tallied 2,336 yards and 21 touchdowns on 208 career receptions in 43 games (38 starts) from 2022-25. In 2025, Williams became the fifth player in Clemson history to record 200 career receptions. The Irmo, S.C., native completed his career ranked fourth in career receptions and also leaves Clemson tied for the fourth-most touchdown receptions in school history. He became the 17th player in Clemson history to reach 2,000 career receiving yards and recorded a catch in each of his first 33 career games at Clemson, the seventh-longest streak in school history.
“Williams is a controlled, fluid athlete and competes with a slow heartbeat,” Brugler wrote. “He does a great job reading leverage out of the slot to give his quarterback a target, although I expected there to be more explosive plays on his tape (ranked 196th in the FBS in catches of 20-plus yards).”
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.