Clemson landed a slew of players on the Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Team for 2026.

The Tigers garnered 11 selections, the third-most picks on the all-conference team behind Miami (17) and Louisville (12).

Athlon outlined how its all-conference team was determined, saying it’s “based on how players will perform in 2026”:

“Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2026 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year. Also, team strength does not play a role in selections. These are the best individual players at each position in the league for ’26.”

Here’s the list of Clemson players who made Athlon’s 2026 Preseason All-ACC Team:

• Junior wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. (first team)
• Senior defensive end Will Heldt (first team)
• Junior linebacker Sammy Brown (first team)
• Junior cornerback Ashton Hampton (first team)
• Junior wide receiver T.J. Moore (second team)
• Junior kicker Nolan Hauser (second team)
• Sophomore running back Gideon Davidson (third team)
• Sophomore offensive lineman Brayden Jacobs (third team)
• Senior offensive lineman Harris Sewell (third team)
• Redshirt senior defensive end Jahiem Lawson (third team)
• Junior safety Jerome Carter III (third team)

Brown and Wesco both also made the Athlon Sports 2026 Preseason All-America Team.

Longtime college football expert Phil Steele also recently released his preseason honorees in his 2026 College Football Preview Magazine, and Clemson is well-represented there as well.

Following a 7-6 season in 2025, Athlon projects Clemson to finish fourth in the ACC this year behind Miami, SMU and Louisville. The Tigers also checked in at No. 27 nationally in the Athlon Sports Preseason Rankings for 2026.

Clemson opens the 2026 campaign against LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m., ABC).