Clemson matches school record with nine selections in NFL Draft

An additional four selections on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday brought Clemson’s total picks in the NFL’s annual selection meeting this year to nine, matching Clemson’s school record for a seven-round draft and coming within one pick of the overall school record of 10 from the 12-round draft in 1983. Clemson’s nine selections in the 2026 NFL Draft tied for the most in the ACC and tied for fourth nationally.All nine of Clemson’s selections came in the first five rounds, and Clemson’s nine selections tied Ohio State for the most across Rounds 1-5. The nine selections in those five rounds shattered Clemson’s record for the first five rounds of a draft, surpassing its previous mark of six in the 1991, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2023 drafts. The 2026 NFL Draft also marked the first time in history Clemson had at least one player selected in each of the first five rounds of a single draft.Day 3 of the draft commenced with two Tigers coming off the board in the fourth round. Quarterback Cade Klubnik became the sixth Clemson quarterback drafted since 1979 when the New York Jets selected the multi-time ACC Championship Game Most Valuable Player with the No. 110 overall pick. Thirteen picks later, the Houston Texans added linebacker Wade Woodaz with the No. 123 overall selection, marking the fifth consecutive year Clemson has had a linebacker drafted.Two more Tigers heard their names called in the fifth round. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart with the No. 155 overall selection, giving the Tigers three defensive line selections in a draft for the fifth time in the last 11 years. Clemson then had a running back selected for the third straight year when the Baltimore Ravens selected Adam Randall with the No. 174 overall pick. The selection of Randall represented the first time in Clemson history that nine different teams came away with at least one Clemson draft pick in a single draft.Head Coach Dabo Swinney brought his career total of draft selections to 95 (plus an additional Supplemental Draft pick), the most of any active coach since the 2009 NFL Draft. He has produced a pick for 28 of the 32 NFL teams during his head coaching career. Swinney also pushed his total of first-round picks to 20, as he and Kirby Smart are now the only active coaches in the nation to have produced 20 or more first-round draft picks in their head coaching careers.Full draft notes plus comments on Saturday’s selections are included below.CLEMSON 2026 NFL DRAFT CLASSRound 1, No. 17 Overall: OT Blake Miller (Detroit Lions)- Round 1, No. 29 Overall: DT Peter Woods (Kansas City Chiefs)- Round 2, No. 35 Overall: DE T.J. Parker (Buffalo Bills)- Round 2, No. 48 Overall: CB Avieon Terrell (Atlanta Falcons)- Round 3, No. 71 Overall: WR Antonio Williams (Washington Commanders)- Round 4, No. 110 Overall: QB Cade Klubnik (New York Jets)- Round 4, No. 123 Overall: LB Wade Woodaz (Houston Texans)- Round 5, No. 155 Overall: DT DeMonte Capehart (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)- Round 5, No. 174 Overall: RB Adam Randall (Baltimore Ravens)

PITTSBURGH —

All nine of Clemson’s selections came in the first five rounds, and Clemson’s nine selections tied Ohio State for the most across Rounds 1-5. The nine selections in those five rounds shattered Clemson’s record for the first five rounds of a draft, surpassing its previous mark of six in the 1991, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2023 drafts. The 2026 NFL Draft also marked the first time in history Clemson had at least one player selected in each of the first five rounds of a single draft.

Day 3 of the draft commenced with two Tigers coming off the board in the fourth round. Quarterback Cade Klubnik became the sixth Clemson quarterback drafted since 1979 when the New York Jets selected the multi-time ACC Championship Game Most Valuable Player with the No. 110 overall pick. Thirteen picks later, the Houston Texans added linebacker Wade Woodaz with the No. 123 overall selection, marking the fifth consecutive year Clemson has had a linebacker drafted.

Two more Tigers heard their names called in the fifth round. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart with the No. 155 overall selection, giving the Tigers three defensive line selections in a draft for the fifth time in the last 11 years. Clemson then had a running back selected for the third straight year when the Baltimore Ravens selected Adam Randall with the No. 174 overall pick. The selection of Randall represented the first time in Clemson history that nine different teams came away with at least one Clemson draft pick in a single draft.

Head Coach Dabo Swinney brought his career total of draft selections to 95 (plus an additional Supplemental Draft pick), the most of any active coach since the 2009 NFL Draft. He has produced a pick for 28 of the 32 NFL teams during his head coaching career. Swinney also pushed his total of first-round picks to 20, as he and Kirby Smart are now the only active coaches in the nation to have produced 20 or more first-round draft picks in their head coaching careers.

Full draft notes plus comments on Saturday’s selections are included below.

CLEMSON 2026 NFL DRAFT CLASS
Round 1, No. 17 Overall: OT Blake Miller (Detroit Lions)- Round 1, No. 29 Overall: DT Peter Woods (Kansas City Chiefs)- Round 2, No. 35 Overall: DE T.J. Parker (Buffalo Bills)- Round 2, No. 48 Overall: CB Avieon Terrell (Atlanta Falcons)- Round 3, No. 71 Overall: WR Antonio Williams (Washington Commanders)- Round 4, No. 110 Overall: QB Cade Klubnik (New York Jets)- Round 4, No. 123 Overall: LB Wade Woodaz (Houston Texans)- Round 5, No. 155 Overall: DT DeMonte Capehart (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)- Round 5, No. 174 Overall: RB Adam Randall (Baltimore Ravens)

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