The Clemson Tigers’ pipeline to the pros continues to shine, with two familiar names earning spots on the NFL’s annual Top 100 Players list heading into the 2025–26 season. Voted on by their peers, the list highlights the league’s elite — and this year, Clemson is well represented.
Higgins Makes His Debut
At No. 77, Tee Higgins cracked the list for the first time. The Cincinnati Bengals wideout arrived at Clemson in 2017 with lofty expectations following in the footsteps of Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins, and Mike Williams. He delivered — finishing tied for most receiving touchdowns in program history (27) and helping the Tigers win a national title in 2018.
Drafted 33rd overall in 2020, Higgins exploded early alongside Ja’Marr Chase, posting over 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns in his first three seasons. Injuries slowed him down, but a bounce-back 2024 season saw him total 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns despite just nine starts. Healthy again, Higgins is poised to be one of the league’s most dangerous big-play receivers.
Lawrence Cracks the Top 20
Clemson’s biggest NFL headline belongs to Dexter Lawrence, who earned the No. 17 spot — the highest ranking ever for a former Tiger since the list debuted in 2011. The New York Giants’ defensive tackle, a cornerstone of Clemson’s “Power Rangers” defensive line, has evolved into one of the league’s most feared interior linemen.
A two-time national champion at Clemson, Lawrence was drafted 17th overall in 2019. After steady early years, he’s blossomed into a dominant force, making three straight Pro Bowls and earning Second-Team All-Pro recognition twice. His 2024 campaign may have been his best yet: nine sacks in just 12 games, the most by any interior lineman last season.
Tigers Still Roaring
From Higgins’ highlight-reel catches to Lawrence’s trench dominance, Clemson’s imprint on the NFL is unmistakable. As the new season begins Sunday, Tiger fans have plenty of reasons to keep tuning in on Sundays — their former stars are still shaping the game at the highest level.