Clemson University is heading into the 2026 NFL Draft — scheduled for April 23–25 in Pittsburgh — with a class that analysts are calling historically disproportionate to the Tigers’ 7-6 record last season. The disconnect between the team’s 2025 on-field results and the individual talent heading to the professional level is one of the more unusual storylines in this year’s draft, and one that carries real implications for how Clemson’s program is evaluated in recruiting circles that include Spartanburg County’s high schools.
At the top of the class, offensive tackle Blake Miller is projected as a late first-round pick by ESPN, NFL.com, and CBS Sports, with mock drafts placing him between picks 22 and 31. If selected in the first round, Miller would become the first Clemson offensive lineman drafted in the first round since Lou Cordileone in 1960. Defensive tackle Peter Woods and edge rusher T.J. Parker are also in the first-round conversation, though both have seen their projections fluctuate. Cornerback Avieon Terrell, slowed by a hamstring injury that kept him from completing his combine workout, is now considered a Day 2 prospect by most outlets. Wide receiver Antonio Williams is similarly projected in the late second round.
The collective picture is of a class that Clemson Insider analysis describes as potentially mirroring the 2019 class, when three Clemson defensive linemen — Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, and Dexter Lawrence — were selected in the first round. Seventeen players participated in Clemson’s Pro Day this year, the largest number since that 2019 group. ESPN has up to 12 Tigers ranked in its top-482 prospects, including four in the top 50.
For Spartanburg-area high school recruits considering Clemson, the draft class matters as a tangible proof point. Schools like Dorman, Spartanburg, Byrnes, and Boiling Springs regularly produce college football prospects, and when those players are weighing Power Four options, Clemson’s NFL pipeline narrative — reinforced by a strong draft class — is a genuine competitive factor in those conversations with Dabo Swinney’s staff.
The draft begins Thursday evening with Round 1, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday. Clemson fans in the Upstate will be watching for Blake Miller’s selection Thursday night as a potential opening highlight, with the rest of the Tigers’ class expected to follow across the weekend.
What’s Happening in Spartanburg
- How many Clemson players are projected in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Multiple mock drafts project four to six Clemson players being selected, which could make this one of the largest Clemson draft classes in recent history. - What positions are Clemson’s top prospects playing?
Clemson’s top draft prospects include a quarterback, offensive linemen, and at least one defensive back — a mix that could yield selections across the first three rounds. - What does a strong draft class mean for Clemson recruiting?
A high-profile draft class reinforces Clemson’s pipeline narrative to recruits: players developed there reach the NFL at a consistent rate, which is a key selling point in head coach Dabo Swinney’s pitches.
