Insider notes on Dabo Swinney's Clemson: Draft grades for top prospects ft. Cade Klubnik, Antonio Williams, and more

Despite the national trend of signing transfers to big-money NIL deals, Dabo Sweeney chooses to do it the old-fashioned way: recruit talent and keep them in tow. He’s been the best in the nation when it comes to the latter, and it could pay dividends. Clemson has a roster worthy of challenging for a national title this season, as well as impacting the first round in next April’s draft.

Clemson has a history of putting talented defensive linemen/pass rushers as well as receivers in the draft, and that tradition should continue next April.

T.J. Parker is widely considered a first-round prospect inside and outside the scouting community, and he’s worthy of the honor. He’s an athletic and explosive front-seven player who is effective standing over tackle as well as coming out of a three-point stance.

Parker is fast off the edge and makes plays in space, but he also adequately defends the run. He’s not the biggest prospect and comes with size limitations, a la recent first-round pick Jalon Walker, yet he’s a difference maker who can be used in a variety of schemes.

Antonio Williams is a playmaker in his own right at the receiver position. He’s incredibly quick, agile and sure-handed. Williams routinely makes the ordinary as well as the extraordinary reception, and he’s effective running after the catch. He’s a smaller wideout, which will raise a few red flags, but he’s potentially a No. 1 receiver on Sundays.

Talk to scouts and they’ll likely tell you that Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik is a Day 3 prospect; he’s not a big-bodied passer and lacks a vertical arm. Yet the film tells a different story, as Klubnik made huge strides in his game last season and turned into a real general on the field.

He’s smart and poised and does a terrific job leading the Clemson offense. Klubnik is also accurate and stays away from bad decision-making and poor passes for the most part. He’s a quarterback prospect who will blow somebody away in a postseason All-Star game, such as the Senior Bowl, kill the combine interviews and cement himself as a first-round prospect.

Moving back to the defensive line, Peter Woods is another terrific prospect with position versatility. He can line up at defensive tackle or end in a three-man line, as he often does for Clemson, and he’s effective at both. He’s strong as a bull and routinely discards offensive tackles, yet he is another with size and growth limitations.

Cornerback Avieon Terrell is a lot like his older brother AJ: tough and athletic with great ball skills. Terrell is outstanding facing the action and equally effective in man coverage. He does a terrific job making plays with his back to the ball. He’s short and won’t come near the six-foot mark teams want in a No. 1 corner, which will depress his draft stock.

Linebacker Wade Woodaz is graded as a Day 3 pick by most scouts I’ve spoken with, yet I strongly disagree with that opinion. Woodaz is not a great pass rusher, but he’s a fantastic off-ball linebacker with the combination of instincts, athleticism and toughness that translates to a starting spot on Sundays. He has the ability to pursue the run as a middle linebacker as well as the foot speed, quickness and skill as a cover linebacker to line up on the weak side.

Jeadyn Lukus is woefully underrated, as the scouts I’ve spoken with have him in the fifth round. Yet coming in near 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds with next-level ball skills, instincts and toughness, Lukus is someone I expect to be a top-15 cornerback on everyone’s list come next April.

Clemson Prospects
Grade	Round	Pos	Full Name	Yr	#
4.12	1st	OLB	T.J. Parker	3Jr	3
4.09	1st	WR	Antonio Williams	3Jr	0
4.03	1st	QB	Cade Klubnik	5Sr	2
3.93	1-2	CB	Avieon Terrell	3Jr	20
3.82	2nd	DT	Peter Woods	3Jr	11
3.75	3rd	ILB	Wade Woodaz	4Sr	17
3.68	3rd	T	Blake Miller	4Sr	78
3.58	4th	S	Khalil Barnes	3Jr	7
3.54	4th	CB	Jeadyn Lukus	4Sr	10
3.47	5th	T	Tristan Leigh	5Sr	71
3.42	6th	DT	DeMonte Capehart	6Sr	19
3.21	FA	G	Walker Parks	6Sr	64