Clemson Adds Three Day 2 Selections To Record-Setting First Three Rounds of 2026 NFL Draft
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson added three more selections in the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday, as defensive end T.J. Parker, cornerback Avieon Terrell and wide receiver Antonio Williams all earned selections on Day 2. Clemson’s five total selections across the first two days of the draft represent the program’s most through the first three rounds of a draft in school history.
The Buffalo Bills selected Parker with the No. 35 overall selection in the second round. The edge rusher finished his Clemson career with 144 tackles (41.5 for loss), 21.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and five pass breakups over 39 career games (29 starts) from 2023-25. He was the only player in the nation to reach both five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries across the 2024-25 seasons.
“T.J. Parker is unique,” Head Coach Dabo Swinney said, the full comments of which are included below. “He’s long, he’s strong. He can really, really run at his size and he’s got the ability and the power to bull rush people, but he’s also got the speed and the tools to be a really, really good pass rusher.”
The Atlanta Falcons added Terrell in the second round with the No. 48 overall selection. The 2025 All-American and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist recorded 128 career tackles (9.0 for loss), 30 pass breakups, three interceptions, 4.0 sacks, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries over 39 games (31 starts) from 2023-25. The two-time All-ACC selection set Clemson records for a defensive back in forced fumbles in a season (five in 2025) and a career (eight from 2023-25). Terrell now joins his brother A.J. in Atlanta, as the duo joined William and Michael Dean Perry as the second set of brothers in Clemson history to both be selected in the top 50 picks of their respective NFL Drafts.
“Avieon is as good as we’ve had here,” Swinney said among his comments about Terrell. “Highly skilled. His brother was a first-rounder. To me, Avieon is a first-rounder talent-wise. I think he can play either corner spot, he can play the nickel, and he’s an elite competitor.”
Clemson’s next selection came in the third round with the No. 71 overall selection when the Washington Commanders selected Williams. Williams was a two-time All-ACC selection who recorded 2,336 yards and 21 touchdowns on 208 career receptions over 43 games (38 starts) from 2022-25. He exited Clemson ranked fourth in school history in career receptions and tied with Mike Williams for the fourth-most career touchdown receptions in school annals.
“Antonio is a day one performer when he walks in their building,” Swinney offered. “Antonio has really lived like a pro, prepared like a pro, played like a pro for his last couple years. He is a highly skilled receiver. If he was 6-2, he’d be a first-round pick.”
Clemson’s previous record of four picks through the first three rounds of a draft was accomplished five times in 1991, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Clemson was one of five schools to produce five selections among the first 75 picks this year and presently stands tied for the fifth-most selections in this year’s draft.
The 2026 NFL Draft will resume at noon ET on Saturday with Rounds 4-7.
