Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney has revealed some bad news before the team's Pinstripe Bowl clash against the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The Clemson Tigers will face the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Pinstripe Bowl later this month in what can barely be called a consolation prize for two teams that entered the 2025 college football campaign with national championship aspirations.
Clemson went just 7-5 on the season and watched as Duke, of all teams, captured the ACC Championship, the latest blow in what has been quite a fall off for the Tigers.
And now, Clemson will be without some of its top players against Penn State.
Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney has revealed that defensive linemen Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart, edge rusher T.J. Parker and cornerback Avieon Terrell have all opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl as they prepare for the NFL Draft.
This should not come as too much of a surprise.
Clemson is not competing for a national title, so top draft candidates like Woods, Parker and Terrell really don't have much incentive to participate in an otherwise arbitrary bowl game.
All three of Woods, Parker and Terrell could be first-round picks in the draft this coming April, and while Capehart is certainly not on that level, the general expectation is that he will be selected at some point on Day 3.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and wide receiver Antonio Williams will also likely hear their names called in the NFL Draft, but Klubnik will almost certainly be playing, and Williams has not made any sort of revelation about opting out just yet.
Woods in particular could be a top-five pick this spring, even though he just completed a relatively disappointing season. Parker's production dipped after a breakout 2024, as well, but he possesses all of the qualities NFL teams look for in a top edge rusher.
Then there is Terrell, who may very well be one of the most underrated cornerbacks in a draft class that is very deep at the position.
Woods is all but guaranteed to fly off the board on Day 1. Things are a bit less certain for Parker and Terrell, but both stand a very good chance of being drafted in the first round.
We'll see if any other Clemson players decide to opt out between now and the Pinstripe Bowl, which will take place on Dec. 27.