PFF’s Top Returning Players Loaded with Clemson Tigers: A Deep Dive
As the 2025 NCAA football season approaches, Pro Football Focus (PFF) has identified Clemson as a powerhouse, flooding their top returning player rankings at several key positions. Clemson’s depth, experience, and elite talent now place them among the most formidable teams in college football. Here’s a comprehensive 800‑word spotlight on PFF’s top returning Clemson Tigers.
1. Peter Woods – No. 1 Returning Interior Defensive Lineman
Clemson’s defensive line anchor, Peter Woods, has earned PFF’s top ranking among returning interior defensive linemen. A true talent, Woods accumulated 32 tackles (8.5 for loss), 3 sacks, and a forced fumble in just 11 games last season—and those numbers came despite playing across the line, including time at edge defender (theclemsoninsider.com).
PFF’s Max Chadwick lauded Woods:
“Woods spent most of his sophomore season playing out of position… earned an impressive 83.3 PFF grade. … highest‑graded and most valuable returning Power Four defensive tackle”
His elite metrics include an 89.7 run‑defense grade and a 14.9 % pass‑rush win rate since 2023 (theclemsoninsider.com). At 6′3″, 315 lb, Woods blends physicality with agility—posing matchup nightmares for opposing tackles. Returning to his natural interior role in 2025, Woods is poised to anchor Clemson’s defensive front with game‑changing impact.
️ 2. T.J. Parker – No. 3 Returning Edge Defender
Clemson’s defensive end, T.J. Parker, secures a top‑3 ranking among returning edge defenders nationally. Over his first two seasons, Parker notched 32 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks across 27 games (theclemsoninsider.com).
Behind only South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart and Texas’s Colin Simmons, Parker is Clemson’s highest-rated returning edge player (theclemsoninsider.com). His elite production—combined with six forced fumbles in 2024—showcases a dynamic disruptor capable of wrecking backfields all season .
3. Cade Klubnik – No. 1 Returning Quarterback
Steering Clemson’s offense is senior quarterback Cade Klubnik, listed by PFF as the best returning QB in college football (pff.com). Klubnik’s leap from a 63.9 passing grade in 2023 to 87.7 in 2024 was remarkable (pff.com). He threw 36 touchdowns—with only six interceptions—and ran for 400+ yards . His 28 big-time throws ranked fifth nationally (pff.com).
In January PFF released its Top 101 players list for 2024, placing Klubnik at No. 38 and citing him as perhaps the most improved player in the country (tigernet.com). Now returning for his senior campaign, Klubnik is armed with experience, tools, and elite confidence.
️ 4. Bryant Wesco – No. 7 Returning Wide Receiver
True freshman Bryant Wesco Jr. led Clemson’s receiver room in 2024 with 707 receiving yards—only trailing two other true freshmen nationally—and ranked fifth in yards per route run (pff.com). He delivered eight catches for 142 yards and two scores in Clemson’s ACC Championship win (pff.com).
Wesco’s 6′2″ frame, elite route-running, natural hands, and explosiveness place him as a high-impact weapon in Clemson’s versatile offense (athlonsports.com). His inclusion in PFF’s top returning wide receivers list reaffirms his ascending role in the passing game.
️ 5. Blake Miller – Top Returning Offensive Tackle
Junior Blake Miller continues his impressive rise, ranked among the top ten returning offensive tackles by PFF (theclemsoninsider.com). A freshman All-American who started every game in his first two seasons, Miller brings experience and stability. His 71.4 ACC-leading run-blocking grade in 2023 and significant career snaps make him a cornerstone of Clemson’s line (theclemsoninsider.com).
⚔️ 6. Avieon Terrell – Top Cornerback Returning
While not directly from PFF’s positional list, Clemson’s Avieon Terrell earned national recognition from On3’s Top 100 returning players, landing at No. 56 (athlonsports.com). With 64 tackles, 13 pass breakups, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two recoveries in 2024, Terrell emerged as a premier ACC cornerback (tigernet.com). Second-team All-ACC, his ball-hawking style includes a stellar passer rating allowed of just 42.8 as a freshman (tigernet.com). With another year under defensive guru Wes Goodwin, Terrell’s trajectory points upward.
⭐ 7. Other Notable Returning Tigers
- Sammy Brown (LB): The ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and former USA Today Defensive Player of the Year, Brown is one of the most promising linebackers to watch (athlonsports.com).
- Khalil Barnes (S): A ball-hawk safety who collected multiple interceptions and forced fumbles in 2023–24, he earned Freshman All-American honors (en.wikipedia.org).
- Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (LB): A former second-team All-American, Trotter Jr. continues to anchor the linebacking corps with big-tackle and sack production (en.wikipedia.org).
Why Clemson is Stacked in 2025
Clemson’s dominance in returning talent spans both sides of the ball: a superior quarterback, a big-play defensive tackle, explosive edge rusher, polished O-line, and playmaking secondary. PFF’s grades, annotations, and stats affirm this talent pool.
Their defensive line—led by Woods and Parker—can dominate trenches. Klubnik’s seasoned leadership and passing efficiency anchor the offense. Wesco boosts the wideout depth, while Miller secures the front five’s strength. Multiple rising defenders further deepen roster quality.
With PFF awarding top returning rankings to Woods (#1 interior DL), Parker (#3 edge), Klubnik (#1 QB), Wesco (#7 WR), and Miller (top-10 OT), Clemson holds a uniquely loaded roster heading into 2025.
What This Means for the Season
- Title Run Loaded with Talent: Clemson may be closer than ever to reclaiming national glory. Their returning star power across offense and defense is unmatched.
- NFL Draft Pipeline: High PFF grades and national exposure bolster the NFL outlook for Woods, Parker, Klubnik, Wesco, Miller, Terrell, and others.
- Depth and Continuity: With fewer personnel losses and strong internal competition, Clemson avoids typical rebuild slumps.
- Excitement in Death Valley: Fans should expect dynamic playmaking, explosive offense, and aggressive defense—hallmarks of Clemson’s past championship teams.
Season Outlook
Clemson enters 2025 with elite returning players defending the trenches, making plays up front, and creating explosive offense. Their mix of veteran leadership and highly-graded talent creates a lethal formula. Expect them to contend in the ACC and remain in the playoff conversation. With Dabo Swinney at the helm and Tom Allen bringing defensive innovations, the stage is set for a breakthrough season.
Conclusion
PFF’s top returning player rankings reinforce what Clemson fans already know—this 2025 roster is stacked. Elite players anchored at key positions, combined with depth and cohesion, place the Tigers atop national contender lists. If injuries stay minimal and development stays on track, Expect a season full of big plays, tough defenses, and maybe another run at college football’s biggest prize.
Clemson’s 2025 roster isn’t just deep—it’s loaded.
Sources: PFF via The Clemson Insider, Tiger View Media, Athlon Sports, TigerNet, On3, Wikipedia data.
