Following Week 4 of the 2026 college football season, longtime ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. evaluated and praised Clemson cornerbacks Ashton Hampton and Elliot Washington II.

Both corners drew Kiper’s attention following strong performances in Clemson’s 24-10 victory over Cal this past Friday night in Berkeley, Calif.

Kiper touted Hampton, a junior, as a first-round lockdown corner while highlighting Washington, a senior, as an outstanding playmaker and likely Day 2 selection.

“[Hampton] had another big game in coverage [Friday]. Playing both press and off coverage, he had three tackles and three pass breakups against Cal,” Kiper wrote. “Hampton crowds the receiver and gets in his hip pocket, disrupting routes right away at the line of scrimmage. He shows good recovery speed and can turn to locate the ball in coverage. And Hampton also shows the ability to plant and drive on the ball, helping him to four picks and 19 pass breakups over this career. Lockdown corner.

“But how about the other Clemson corner? Elliot Washington II came over from Penn State, and he has been outstanding. He picked off two passes [Friday] and has made at least one impact play in every game this season. At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, he is not as tall as Hampton (6-foot-2 and 205 pounds), but he has length. James Franklin used to rave about this kid. Whereas Hampton is a first-rounder, Washington probably goes on Day 2. He’s a good special-teamer, too.”

Hampton has tallied 10 tackles (0.5 for loss), seven pass breakups and an interception through four games this season, while Washington is credited with 13 tackles, a forced fumble, three pass breakups and three interceptions.

Hampton was credited with 77 tackles (3.5 for loss), 17 pass breakups, three interceptions, including a pick-six, and a sack over 27 games across his first two years at Clemson from 2024-25. He broke out during his freshman campaign, earning freshman All-America honors.

Before transferring to Clemson, Washington spent his first three seasons at Penn State, where he played under former Nittany Lions and current Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen in 2024. In his time at Penn State, Washington collected 53 tackles (1.5 for loss), two interceptions and nine pass breakups over 36 games        .

The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 1 in Washington, D.C.