The soft launch is over. Clemson’s offseason is officially real.
Cade Klubnik used Senior Day to call South Carolina his “final game in Death Valley.” Antonio Williams has already told the world he’s turning pro. And behind them, a wave of NFL and portal decisions is about to determine what Clemson football looks like in 2026.
Here are five Tigers most likely to leave, plus two who have already confirmed they’re gone.
1. Cade Klubnik, QB — The Era Is Over
This one’s already settled.
Cade Klubnik effectively shut the door on any return. He exits with years of starting experience, a roller-coaster stat line and enough tape to get a real NFL look.
His departure doesn’t just change a position — it closes a chapter.
Next up: Christopher Vizzina and human highlight reel Chris Denson.
2. Antonio Williams, WR — Clemson’s Safety Valve Heads to Sundays
Clemson’s most dependable receiver is gone, too.
Antonio Williams has formally declared for the NFL Draft, fulfilling the plan he and the staff had going into the season. He’s been the security blanket on third down, the all-purpose chain-mover and the guy who bailed the offense out when things broke down.
His exit accelerates the youth movement at receiver. Bryant Wesco Jr., T.J. Moore, and Tristan Smith are no longer “next up” — they’re the guys.
3. Peter Woods, DT — The First-Round Decision
If you’re looking for Clemson’s most inevitable early-entry candidate, it’s Peter Woods.
He’s the kind of interior defensive lineman everybody chases in the draft: explosive, violent hands, unblockable stretches where he just takes over drives. Those guys do not hang around campus for four or five years unless something goes wrong.
Woods isn’t just a possible departure — he’s the one Clemson fans should probably already be mentally thanking for three years and saying goodbye.
4. T.J. Parker, EDGE — Sack Machine With Nothing Left to Prove
On the edge, T.J. Parker has played his way into the “leave-while-you’re-hot” conversation.
He’s wrecked protections, turned third downs into punting situations and given Clemson the kind of bendy, disruptive presence off the edge that defensive coordinators build game plans around. Another year could make him even richer in the draft, but he already looks like a player who’d hear his name early.
If Woods and Parker both move on, Clemson’s defensive line room goes from “cheat code” to “full rebuild” in one offseason.
5. Avieon Terrell, CB — Ball Hawk With NFL Bloodlines
Avieon Terrell has quietly become one of Clemson’s most valuable defenders.
He’s sticky in coverage, competitive at the catch point and has a knack for getting the ball out. Add in a family name NFL people already trust, and the league’s interest is not a question — only the timing is.
One more strong finish, and Terrell is exactly the kind of corner who hears “you’re ready” from evaluators and never looks back.
Honorable Mention: The Wildcards
Will Heldt, DE — One-Year Rental or Two-Year Anchor?
Portal addition Will Heldt has been exactly what Clemson hoped for: a real bookend opposite Parker.
If his tape pops the way it appears, he’ll have an early-entry decision to make too. If he stays and Parker goes, he becomes the face of the 2026 pass rush. If both leave, Clemson’s edge room is a blank canvas.
The Portal Flight Risks
These aren’t single names as much as profiles — guys who fit what the modern portal looks like:
- Veteran WRs buried behind Wesco, Moore, Kelley and Smith
- Quarterbacks who don’t see a clean path to starts behind Vizzina and Denson
- Linebackers and OL squeezed by new additions and scheme changes
They might not make national headlines, but losing two or three of these players can quietly swing how ready Clemson is to compete in 2026.
Bottom Line: Reload or Roster Shock?
Clemson already knows it will line up in 2026 without Cade Klubnik and Antonio Williams.
If Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, Avieon Terrell and possibly Will Heldt all join them in leaving early — and if the expected trickle of portal departures follows — the Tigers’ roster is going to look very different, very fast.
Whether that’s a reload or a full-on roster shock depends on how many more players decide they’ve played their last snap in orange… and how aggressive Dabo Swinney is willing to be in replacing them.