ESPN recently ranked the top five players at each position for the 2025 NFL Draft (subscription required), and a few Clemson players are featured in the rankings put together by ESPN draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid.

Rising senior Barrett Carter is Miller’s top-ranked linebacker in next year’s draft class, while Reid ranks him as the second-best linebacker prospect behind LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr.

As a second-team All-ACC selection in 2023, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Carter ranked second on the team in tackles (67) and tallied 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery over 12 games (all starts).

A 2022 All-American, Carter enters the 2024 season credited with 170 tackles (21.0 for loss), 9.0 sacks, 15 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over 38 career games (26 starts).

Meanwhile, another veteran Clemson defender, fifth-year defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, checked in as Reid’s No. 5 defensive tackle prospect behind Michigan’s Mason Graham, Kentucky’s Deone Walker, Michigan’s Kenneth Grant and Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams.

Capehart came on down the stretch last season as one of Clemson’s most physical and disruptive interior linemen. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder was credited with nine quarterback pressures, the second-most among the Tigers’ interior linemen, and was credited with 16 tackles (5.0 for loss), a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.

A former top-50 national recruit, Capehart has recorded 32 tackles (9.0 for loss), 2.0 sacks, a pass breakup and a forced fumble during his 34 career games.

On the other side of the ball, rising senior Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool is ranked as the No. 4 tight end in next year’s draft class, according to Reid.

Michigan’s Colston Loveland, Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Georgia’s Benjamin Yurosek are ranked ahead of Briningstool, who was pegged by Reid as the “toughest player to rank” among tight ends.

“The 6-foot-6, 230-pound (senior) is primarily a receiving threat and is inconsistent as a blocker,” Reid wrote. “Briningstool’s combination of hands and route-running ability make him a prospect to keep an eye on in a tight end class that lacks a Brock Bowers-type prospect but is overall deeper than the 2024 crop.”

In his first year as a full starter in 2023, Briningstool’s 50 receptions as a junior tied the Clemson single-season school record for a tight end. A third-team All-ACC selection, he posted career highs in catches, receiving yards (498) and receiving touchdowns (five), becoming the seventh tight end in school history to record 10 career touchdown receptions.

The former unanimous four-star and top-100 national prospect from Tennessee enters 2024 with 78 career catches for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns over 35 career games (13 starts).

The 2025 NFL Draft will take place in Green Bay next April.

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available.  Get yours while supplies last!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!