Clemson is all over The Athletic's Top 25 ACC football players for the 2025 season
Clemson football will enter the 2025 season with no shortage of star power, and The Athletic's ($$$) latest ACC player rankings reflect just how loaded Dabo Swinney's roster is.
Nine Tigers were named among the top 25 players in the ACC, with five of them ranked inside the top 10, including three in the top five and two in the top three. Edge rusher T.J. Parker leads the way at No. 1 overall after an outstanding 2024 campaign that included 16.5 career sacks, six forced fumbles, and a four-sack performance against Pittsburgh. He was also a key factor in Clemson's win over SMU in the ACC Championship Game.
Fellow defensive lineman Peter Woods came in at No. 3. The 315-pound interior force recorded 28 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks in his first season as a full-time starter. The Athletic's Manny Navarro described Parker and Woods as 'a two-headed monster' that gives Clemson a major advantage defensively heading into 2025.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik was ranked No. 4, earning recognition as the top quarterback in the league. Klubnik made a major leap in efficiency last year and enters this fall with 36 career touchdown passes, the most among returning FBS quarterbacks. His supporting cast only adds to his potential, with standout receiver Antonio Williams ranked No. 7 overall and recognized as the ACC's top wideout after leading the league with 11 touchdown receptions in 2024.
Cornerback Avieon Terrell gives Clemson five players in the top 10. He landed at No. 8 after posting 58 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and two interceptions last season, while also establishing himself as one of the league's most reliable run defenders.
Clemson's presence continues deeper into the list, with offensive tackle Blake Miller at No. 12. The veteran lineman has started 41 games in his career and was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2024. Linebacker Wade Woodaz (No. 16), safety Khalil Barnes (No. 18), and sophomore linebacker Sammy Brown (No. 22) round out the Clemson contingent. Barnes has led the team in interceptions each of the past two years, and Brown — a former five-star recruit — was last season's ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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