CLEMSON — There is a common question asked to me when I go on radio shows the week after an NFL Draft.

“How many Clemson players do I think will be drafted next year?”

I usually have a pretty good idea and can give a good answer. However, I cannot do it this year?

Why?

I don’t know, especially since the NCAA Division I Board of Directors on Monday directed the Division I Cabinet to advance an age-based eligibility concept that, if adopted in its current form, would permit student-athletes up to five years of eligibility beginning the regular academic year after they turn 19 or graduate from high school, whichever happens earlier.

Under that model, Division I student-athletes would no longer be limited to only four seasons of competition within their five-year eligibility window.

What does this have to do with the NFL Draft?

Everything!

In this world of NIL and revenue sharing, college athletes have an opportunity to make a lot of money before turning pro, especially those that could be drafted below the third round. 

The 2026 Clemson roster will have 72 draft eligible players at the end of the season. However, 14 of those will have a legitimate chance to be drafted, though I do not expect that many to get drafted.

Thanks to the new eligibility rules, next year’s draft eligible players will have a big decision to make. With a fifth year in hand, players can now stay four years, make some money, graduate from school and then decide to go professional or not after their fourth season.

In other words, true seniors like defensive end Will Heldt, cornerback Elliott Washington, wide receiver Tyler Brown, tight end Olsen Patt-Henry and defensive end Markus Strong will have the option to return for a fifth season in college if they want.

Though that is unlikely for a guy like Heldt, it does give Washington, Brown, Patt-Henry and Strong an opportunity to make money in college for one more year, while improving their draft stock.

It also gives true juniors like wide receivers T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco, linebacker Sammy Brown and safeties Jerome Carter and Corey Myrick incentive to stay in college a year longer. Not only with an opportunity to make more money and improve their draft stock, potentially, but also with another year in school, they can graduate instead of leaving early for the NFL and being just short of graduating.

So, when I am asked who is likely to be drafted from Clemson next year, I really have no idea. Next year’s NFL Draft decisions could be very interesting, and not just at Clemson.