Draft Scout Clemson Player News, College Football: Clemson

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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Clemson

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09/10/24 - Cade Klubnik, Jr/2026, Clemson + More +

WEEK 2 ACC CO-QUARTERBACK OF THE WEEK: Cade Klubnik, Clemson, QB, Austin, Texas,...Klubnik completed 24-of-26 passes for a career-high 378 yards and five touchdowns, while only playing in the first half against Appalachian State. He also added a pair of rushing touchdowns to finish as the only FBS quarterback in the last 25 years with five passing touchdowns, multiple rushing touchdowns, and a completion percentage of 90.0-percent or better in a game. Despite playing only one half, his 378 passing yards were tied for the 19th-most in a game in school history. It was the most by a Clemson quarterback since Trevor Lawrence's 400 passing yards against Ohio State to end the 2020 season. He became the first ACC quarterback to record at least four passing touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns in a single half since Louisville's Lamar Jackson in 2016, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Alongside McCord, Klubnik was also named a Manning Award Star of the Week. - ACC Football

Jr/2026

QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson
News Source: ACC Football
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11/29/23 - Nate Wiggins, Jr/2024, Clemson + More +

Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins is declaring for the NFL draft. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney confirmed in a text message to The Associated Press on Wednesday night that the starting defensive back was heading to the next level and opting out of the team's upcoming bowl game. ESPN was first to report Wiggins' decision. Wiggins, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound junior from Atlanta, is projected as a first-round selection. Wiggins has shown that over and over again in his career. He was chosen for the all-Atlantic Coast Conference first team on Tuesday.

Wiggins was the defensive star in a 31-20 victory over North Carolina on Nov. 18 when he forced a fumble - chasing down Tar Heels tailback Omarion Hampton and stripping the ball just steps from the goal line - and had an interception on quarterback Drake Maye. When asked about catching Hampton, Wiggins responded, "I'm a fast guy." Wiggins finished his Clemson career with 60 tackles and three interceptions, two returned for touchdowns. Wiggins is Clemson's second All-ACC defender to leave for the NFL and opt out of the bowl game. Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. announced his decision to turn pro Tuesday. - AP College Football

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CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
News Source: AP College Football
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11/28/23 - Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Jr/2024, Clemson + More +

Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is giving up his final year in college for the NFL. Trotter announced his decision Tuesday on social media, thanking his family along with Clemson coaches, teammates and fans in helping shape who he is. "After long thought and prayer, I am officially announcing that I am taking the next step in a lifelong dream and declaring for the 2024 NFL draft," he posted. Trotter is not expected to play in whatever bowl game the Tigers (8-4) take part in. His last act with Clemson was planting the team flag at midfield of rival South Carolina's stadium on Saturday night after the Tigers' 16-7 victory.

Trotter is a 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker from Hainesport, New Jersey. He led the Tigers this season with 87 tackles, 14 1/2 stops behind the line of scrimmage and two interceptions. He had a pick-six score in a 31-23 victory over then-No. 12 Notre Dame on Nov. 4. Trotter's father is longtime NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who played 11 seasons in the pros with Philadelphia, Washington and Tampa from 1998-2008. He started 124 of 147 games in his career. The younger Trotter was a second-team All-American a year ago. He is projected as a second-day, second-or third-round selection in next spring's draft. - AP College Football

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ILB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
News Source: AP College Football
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03/08/23 - Ruke Orhorhoro, rSr/2024, Clemson + More +

Orange and white were still the primary jersey colors as Clemson football opened spring practice on March 6. But another color - yellow - was prominently featured. For the second spring in a row, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney's pre-practice press conference included a long rundown of players who will be limited participants in yellow jerseys. That includes defensive tackles Ruke Orhorhoro and Payton Page, who are recovering from shoulder injuries. Receivers Beaux Collins (shoulder) and Adam Randall (knee) are also on the mend, along with offensive lineman Walker Parks (ankle) and Marcus Tate (knee). "Definitely wish I had them out there, but they aren't gonna hand out any trophies this spring," Swinney said. "We'll be able to get done what we need to do foundationally as a team with the guys we have." - Charleston Post Courier

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DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson
News Source: Charleston Post Courier
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03/07/23 - Peter Woods, So/2027, Clemson + More +

Monday marked freshman defensive lineman Peter Woods' first career practice as a Tiger. He's easily the most-hyped recruit in Clemson's recruiting class of 2023 and finished his career at Thompson (Ala.) High School as the No. 33 prospect in the country. Freshman early enrollees T.J. Parker and Vic Burley also rank as top 10 defensive linemen in the class (Burley and Stephiylan Green, another freshman defensive lineman, practiced with Clemson at the Orange Bowl). Woods looks every bit of the 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds he's listed at and moved well in early drills. - The State

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DT Peter Woods, Clemson
News Source: The State
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03/07/23 - Cade Klubnik, Jr/2026, Clemson + More +

It was a quick and somewhat awkward transition from DJ Uiagalelei to Klubnik during the 2022 ACC title game. Days after the freshman took the reins in a clobbering of North Carolina, Uiagalelei was in the transfer portal and on his way to Oregon State. Bowl preparations were Klubnik's first run at being the leader of the offense, but last year's talk of a quarterback competition will stretch farther into the rearview mirror as spring and fall camps commence.

This is Klubnik's team, with transfer Paul Tyson and incoming freshman Christopher Vizzina very much expected to play supporting roles. "He's the full package," Riley said. "He's very skilled, he's very talented. But I just think between the ears, how he carries himself, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that's kind of the magic with Cade Klubnik." There are high hopes for Clemson's next era at quarterback. But what progress has Klubnik made physically since the fall? What's his comfort level with Riley's system? What steps has he taken as a leader? All eyes are on Klubnik now. - Charleston Post Courier

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QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson
News Source: Charleston Post Courier
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02/01/23 - Cade Klubnik, Jr/2026, Clemson + More +

Clemson is coming off an 11-3 season which featured plenty of highs - an 8-0 record in conference play, a seventh ACC title in eight years - but some notable lows, too. The Tigers missed a second consecutive College Football Playoff after making six straight from 2015 to 2020 and were 0-3 against non-conference Power Five opponents in 2022.

Those losses to Notre Dame, South Carolina and Tennessee (in the Orange Bowl) underscored some lingering offensive issues and prompted Swinney to fire offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter after one season and replace him with former TCU OC Garrett Riley. Riley will be tasked with unlocking the full potential of sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik, a former five-star recruit who replaced DJ Uiagalelei late in the season and - amid some growing pains - flashed undeniable star power against UNC in the ACC title game and Tennessee. - The State

Jr/2026

QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson
News Source: The State
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01/28/23 - Joseph Ngata, Sr/2023, Clemson + More +

Notes from NFLPA practice in Pasadena are split on wide receiver Joseph Ngata (Clemson). He is currently rated No. 261 overall, a seventh round/priority free agent, by NFL Draft Scout. He was previously rated as high as the third round but fell when injuries prevented him from living up to expectations. NFL.com highlighted Ngata among six of the most intriguing prospects from NFLPA Collegiate Bowl practices, reporting "Ngata was a five-star recruit out of high school. There were high expectations for him at Clemson, but he struggled to reach them during an injury-plagued career."

That's partially true. Ngata, who was measured at 6-3 1/4, 220 pounds last week, was a four-star recruit we saw at Folsom High (California) who was beset by injuries at Clemson. His best season was 2022 with 526 yards in 14 starts, including a career-best eight catches in his final game. In Tuesday's practice, Ngata wowed scouts with a diving catch over the middle and on Wednesday showed off his athleticism on some downfield passes. However, although we estimate he can run 40 yards in the mid 4.4 second area, scouts at the workouts told us that he struggled to get separation and was battling for the ball against smaller defensive backs. It will be interesting to see the results of his vertical jump, agility drills and quickness at the combine. - Frank Cooney, NFL Draft Scout

Sr/2023

WR Joseph Ngata, Clemson
News Source: Frank Cooney, NFL Draft Scout
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01/07/23 - Tyler Davis, rSr/2024, Clemson + More +

Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro are back. Davis and Orhorhoro, two of Clemson football's starting defensive tackles, are returning to the program for a fifth season, they confirmed on social media Friday. Davis was a first-team All ACC pick this season, and Orhorhoro was a third-team All ACC pick. They'd both previously accepted Senior Bowl invitations, walked on Senior Day and were projected as a Day 2 or 3 picks in April's NFL Draft. In returning to Clemson, Davis and Orhorhoro immediately position themselves as two of the top players on the Tigers' 2023 defense after excelling at defensive tackle alongside Bryan Bresee in recent seasons.

Davis was statistically dominant as a senior with 31 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He played in 12 games, started 11 and picked up second-team All-America honors from the Football Writers of America Association and Phil Steele. He also earned his second straight first-team All ACC honor. Splitting reps with Bresee and Davis, Orhorhoro had 23 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, five pass deflections and a career-high four sacks in 2022. - The State

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DT Tyler Davis, Clemson
News Source: The State
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01/07/23 - Justin Mascoll, rSr/2024, Clemson + More +

Stuck behind two All-ACC performers at his position for most of 2022, Clemson defensive Justin Mascoll knows he could have bolted for greener pastures. But when he sat down and thought hard about where to play his sixth and final season of college football, leaving the Tigers just didn't feel right. "It was heavy on my heart," Mascoll said. "But I prayed about it, and I felt like me coming back was more beneficial than me just entering the portal or whatever." That was among many reasons Mascoll decided to return to Clemson for 2023, something he revealed to coach Dabo Swinney and position coach Lemanski Hall in mid-December before announcing it publicly in the locker room to reporters after last Friday's Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee.

He was the first of four Clemson players to announce their intent to return over the past week. Safety Jalyn Phillips, cornerback Sheridan Jones and defensive end Xavier Thomas are all returning for their last year of eligibility in 2023, too. "I thought about it a lot," Mascoll said. "Really, it's just me coming back trying to maximize everything and just be a leader, be a captain and just help some of the young guys coming in." And did he ever really consider transferring? "No, not really," Mascoll said. "I just feel like the portal stuff is a distraction. I started here, and I want to finish here. That's it." Mascoll had 19 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in 14 games this year while backing up first team All-ACC selection Myles Murphy (40 tackles, 11 TFL, 6.5 sacks) and second team All-ACC selection K.J. Henry (51 tackles, 9 TFL, 3.5 sacks) at defensive end. - The State

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DE Justin Mascoll, Clemson
News Source: The State
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01/06/23 - Jalyn Phillips, rSr/2024, Clemson + More +

A pair of Clemson defensive backs, Jalyn Phillips and Sheridan Jones, have announced they intend to "run it back" as fifth-year seniors in 2023. Phillips and Jones are the second and third seniors, respectively, to announce they are using their additional year of eligibility afforded to them by the pandemic-impacted 2020 season to return to Clemson. Defensive end Justin Mascoll is returning for a sixth year, while left tackle Jordan McFadden, tight end Davis Allen, and defensive end KJ Henry are all headed to the NFL Draft.

Junior defenders Bryan Bresee, Myles Murphy, and Trenton Simpson are also jumping to the pro ranks. While neither defensive back was going to be projected as top draft picks, both could play valuable roles for the Tigers in 2023. Phillips started all 14 games at safety for Clemson in 2022, finishing second on the team with 82 tackles. At corner, the Tigers were less susceptible to big plays when Jones was available, but he missed three games to a stinger issue and the bowl with a hip flexor injury. - Charleston Post Courier

rSr/2024

SS Jalyn Phillips, Clemson
News Source: Charleston Post Courier
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01/04/23 - K.J. Henry, rSr/2023, Clemson + More +

After developing into an every-game starter and setting career highs in tackles and tackles for loss as a fifth-year senior, Henry still might come back for more. He said last week he was "leaning toward" returning to Clemson for a sixth and final season. "That decision time will be made at a later date," Henry said postgame. "Right now it's just about appreciating what we've done this year. Coach Swinney said it in the locker room: 11 great days and three bad ones, and we'd be fools to really just focus on the bad three."

Henry, a former five-star recruit long considered one of Clemson's team leaders, was a second team All-ACC selection in 2022 with 51 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 14 games (all starts). If he returns, he could break Clemson's all-time games record of 69 (he's at 58). Henry's also accepted a Senior Bowl invite. - The State

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DE K.J. Henry, Clemson
News Source: The State
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01/04/23 - *Bryan Bresee, rSo/2023, Clemson + More +

Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee announced he will head to the pro ranks. Bresee, a junior, has been projected as a first-round pick in mock drafts despite 2021 and '22 seasons limited by injury, illness, and personal tragedy. "It has been a life-long dream of mine to play in the NFL," Bresee wrote in an Instagram post on Jan. 2. "After much thought and many prayers, I would like to announce that I am declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. Although I'm excited for this next chapter in my football journey, I will always be a Clemson Tiger."

Bresee was one of several juniors to declare for the draft on Jan. 2, including Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson and defensive end Myles Murphy, who were also five-star recruits in the 2020 class, announced prior to the Tigers' bowl game that they were heading pro. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Bresee was the No. 1 overall recruit in that class and was the ACC's defensive rookie of the year in 2020. He tore his ACL in the fourth game of Clemson's 2021 season. This campaign, Bresee was in and out of the lineup as he dealt with the death of his 15-year-old sister, a kidney issue, and then a case of strep throat. On the year, Bresee had 15 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 10 games. - Charleston Post Courier

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DT *Bryan Bresee, Clemson
News Source: Charleston Post Courier
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01/04/23 - Jalyn Phillips, rSr/2024, Clemson + More +

Jalyn Phillips, a senior co-starter at free safety with Tyler Venables, told The State he's "definitely" thought about returning but hasn't made a decision yet. Phillips set career highs with 14 starts, 74 total tackles and four pass deflections in 2023. He said another year of film as a starter would be helpful but "my body might say otherwise." Phillips will also consider whether he feels mentally ready to go to the pros now or later. "Definitely going to talk to my parents and all the close people around me," he said. "Just go over pros and cons...I haven't made a decision yet, but it should be coming soon." - The State

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SS Jalyn Phillips, Clemson
News Source: The State
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12/29/22 - *Bryan Bresee, rSo/2023, Clemson + More +

Bryan Bresee has a big decision to make. But he also has an Orange Bowl to play in. And despite being billed as a potential first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Clemson's star junior defensive tackle said he's locked in on the latter task. "I've been focused on Tennessee and that's all it's been so far," Bresee told reporters Wednesday in a pre-Orange Bowl media session. "When the season comes to a close, I'll weigh my options and talk to my family and my coaches and teammates and figure it out." Bresee, a former No. 1 overall recruit who's earned All-ACC honors every year of his Clemson career, is widely regarded as a top 15 NFL Draft talent.

College football underclassmen such as Bresee have until Jan. 16 to notify the NFL they're entering the draft pool, per NFL.com. Two of Bresee's Clemson teammates, junior defensive end Myles Murphy and junior linebacker Trenton Simpson, have already declared for the draft. Bresee said his decision won't come until after the Orange Bowl, which pits No. 6 Tennessee (10-2) against No. 7 Clemson (11-2) in a matchup of one-time College Football Playoff contenders. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Friday from Hard Rock Stadium. - The State

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