Clemson’s football program continues to earn national preseason recognition as Athlon Sports releases its 2026 All-Conference team, announcing that eleven Tigers have made the list.
Four of those selections earned first-team honors, highlighting the depth of the Tigers’ roster. The first-team group includes Bryant Wesco Jr., Will Heldt, Sammy Brown and Ashton Hampton, with Wesco standing out as the sole offensive player among the four.
First-Team Highlights
Three of the first-team members are defensive standouts — Heldt, Brown and Hampton — underscoring the unit’s strength heading into the upcoming season.
The second-team nod went to junior receiver T.J. Moore and kicker Nolan Hauser, while the third-team slot was filled by five players: Gideon Davidson, Brayden Jacobs, Harris Sewell, Jahiem Lawson and Jerome Carter II.
Overall, Clemson’s eleven honorees trail only the Miami Hurricanes (17) and the Louisville Cardinals (12) in total selections, reflecting a competitive landscape across the ACC.
Beyond the all-conference lists, Wesco Jr. and Brown also appeared on Athlon’s Preseason All-America team, and two Tigers — Sammy Brown and Brayden Jacobs — earned spots on Phil Steele’s annual preseason All-America squad. In total, nine Clemson athletes were named All-ACC.