This Clemson Tigers star is already on the radar for the 2027 NFL Draft.
The Clemson Tigers had a pair of players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft last week, with offensive tackle Blake Miller and Peter Woods coming off the board.
Clemson also saw cornerback Avieon Terrell, edge rusher T.J. Parker and wide receiver Antonio Williams selected on Day 2, while several other Tigers — including quarterback Cade Klubnik — were taken a bit later.
In total, nine Clemson players were chosen in the 2026 draft, tying a school record.
But what could the 2027 NFL Draft potentially hold for the Tigers?
We can't jump too far ahead, especially considering that Klubnik was viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick going into the 2025 college football season, but we can at least get a general idea of who to monitor.
One popular name for Clemson seems to be edge rusher Will Heldt, who opted to return to school for another year and is already generating first-round buzz for next spring.
In fact, Cooper Petagna of CBS Sports is predicting Heldt to be a Day 1 pick in 2026, projecting him to land with the New England Patriots at No. 25.
Clemson Tigers edge rusher Will Heldt. Credit: Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images."A former Purdue transfer, Heldt is coming off a strong 7.5-sack campaign in his first season under Dabo Swinney," Petagna wrote. "A long, sudden mover at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, he has a knack for making plays in the backfield, pairing strong instincts with the ability to impact both the run and pass."
It's rare that Swinney lands transfers, but he broke protocol with Heldt in 2025, and it certainly paid off, as the pass rusher racked up 46 tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss to go along with his sack total this past season.
Heldt began his collegiate career at Purdue in 2023 and began receiving significant playing time the following year, finishing with 56 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks before transferring to Clemson.
Numerous other Tigers players are viewed as potential first-round selections for next April, as well, including wide receivers T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco, cornerback Ashton Hampton and linebacker Sammy Brown.
Heldt seems to be drawing the most attention at this juncture.
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