Latest Top 100 Players Rankings Feature 2 Tigers
By: Gavin Oliver August 25, 2026

The Athletic and USA TODAY both ranked the top 100 players in college football ahead of the 2026 season, and two of Clemson’s defensive stalwarts – junior linebacker Sammy Brown and senior edge rusher Will Heldt – made each of those lists.

At The Athletic, Brown came in at No. 57

“Brown continues to be a star for the Tigers, following up a strong freshman debut with a terrific sophomore season, finishing second in the ACC in tackles (106) and second among ACC linebackers in tackles for loss (13.5),” The Athletic’s Sam Khan Jr. wrote.

As for Heldt, he is ranked No. 79 by The Athletic.

“One of the small handful of transfers Dabo Swinney signed before the 2025 season, Heldt (formerly of Purdue) made a major impact, leading the Tigers in tackles for loss (15.5), sacks (7.5) and pressures (45),” Khan Jr. wrote.

Meanwhile, Heldt landed at No. 87 among USA TODAY’s top 100 college football players for 2026, and Brown checked in at No. 40.

A former five-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class and a high school Butkus Award winner, Brown earned freshman All-America honors in his debut season in 2024 while also being named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Last season, he collected first-team All-ACC honors and was a third-team All-America selection by college football guru Phil Steele.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder enters the 2026 season credited with 194 tackles (25 for loss), 10 sacks, 11 pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 27 games (19 starts) in his first two seasons.

Heldt, a third-team All-ACC selection last season, made an instant impact for Clemson after two productive seasons at Purdue. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder enters 2026 credited with 114 tackles (26.5 for loss), 12.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery (returned 16 yards for a touchdown) in 37 games (25 starts) across his career with the Tigers and Boilermakers.

Heldt and Brown are two of only 14 players nationally to post 10-plus tackles for loss and five or more sacks in each of the last two seasons.

CBS Sports recently ranked college football’s top 150 players, and Brown leads the way among Clemson players with a No. 21 ranking. Heldt is No. 84 on that list, while Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton (No. 49) and Clemson wide receiver T.J. Moore (No. 58) made the list as well.

The Athletic, USA Today and CBS Sports all rank Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith as the No. 1 player in college football.

Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown (47) celebrates with defensive end Will Heldt (13) after intercepting a Furman pass during the second quarter on November 22, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)