With the 2026 college football kickoff less than three weeks away, four Clemson Tigers have earned national recognition by landing inside the top 100 of CBS Sports’ ranking of the top 150 players in college football.
Coming off a 7-6 campaign in 2025, head coach Dabo Swinney made deliberate offseason adjustments, including bringing in a record 11 transfer portal additions alongside retaining key defensive and offensive anchors. Clemson enters the fall ranked No. 23 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll ahead of its marquee season opener against the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Leading the charge for Clemson on the national ranking is third-year linebacker Sammy Brown, who landed at No. 21 overall.
Sammy Brown (#21 Overall)
Brown, a former five-star recruit ranked as the nation’s No. 2 linebacker in the 2024 class, emerged as the top individual player on the Clemson roster after recording 106 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and an interception last season. He ranked as the second-highest pure linebacker in the country on the list behind Auburn’s Xavier Atkins.
“Brown played with his hair on fire throughout 2025 and emerged as the best player on Clemson’s defense. He piled up 106 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and an interception while showing the range to cover sideline to sideline,” CBS Sports college football analyst Tommy Brockermeyer said. “Brown is athletic enough to spy mobile quarterbacks, match up with running backs and tight ends in coverage and still make an impact as a downhill run defender.”
Brockermeyer added that Brown stood out as “one of the nation’s most complete linebackers.”
Ashton Hampton (#49 Overall)
Cornerback Ashton Hampton checked in inside the top 50 at No. 49 overall. The third-year defensive back started all 13 games in 2025, tallying 47 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and 11 pass breakups. Hampton ranked as the sixth-best cornerback in college football.
“Clemson has produced a long line of standout cornerbacks, and Hampton looks poised to become the next. He has the size, fluid hips and change-of-direction ability to excel in press coverage while consistently making plays on the football,” Brockermeyer noted. “Hampton possesses all the traits of a future high NFL Draft pick and could emerge as one of the nation’s best corners this season.”
Over two seasons at Clemson, Hampton has recorded 17 pass breakups and three interceptions.
T.J. Moore (#58 Overall)
Third-year wide receiver T.J. Moore took the No. 58 spot overall. Moore led all Clemson pass-catchers in 2025 with 837 yards on 52 receptions, bringing his two-year totals to 1,488 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
“Moore has all the tools to emerge as one of the ACC’s top receivers,” Brockermeyer said. “The long, rangy target boasts an impressive catch radius, beats press coverage with ease and catches the ball naturally. Comfortable lining up inside or outside, Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr. give Clemson one of the nation’s most talented receiving duos heading into 2026.”
Will Heldt (#84 Overall)
Rounding out the group at No. 84 overall is senior EDGE Will Heldt, a former Purdue transfer who led the Clemson front with 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss last season.
“Heldt was Clemson’s most impactful defensive lineman last season on a unit that failed to meet expectations, finishing with 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss,” Brockermeyer observed. “The long, crafty edge rusher wins with technique, effort and a high football IQ rather than overwhelming athleticism. Heldt understands blocking schemes and consistently maximizes his ability with sound fundamentals and a relentless motor.”
