Spring Preview: Top 5 Defensive Returners for Clemson Football

CLEMSON – With defensive veterans like T.J. Parker, Peter Woods, and Avieon Terrell headed to this year’s NFL Draft, Clemson prioritized bringing in new players from the transfer portal during the designated window this winter.

Head coach Dabo Swinney and his staff brought in nine defensive portal commitments, as well as eight freshmen defenders in the 2026 class after the Tigers’ rocky season in 2025. The goal, as Swinney put it, was to “fill the gaps” of losing nearly 20 veterans due to eligibility expirations or the portal.

With the new transfers and true freshmen, the Tigers also retained several notable defensive veterans who now have a year of experience working with defensive…