Charlotte Spotlight Turns Orange
If there was any doubt about who’s leading the ACC football conversation heading into 2025, Clemson erased it Thursday with a statement louder than Howard’s Rock on a football Saturday. At the ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte, Clemson took center stage—landing a conference-best 11 players on the 2025 All-ACC Preseason Team, more than triple the total of any other school.
More than just a numbers game, the Tigers also walked away with the league’s highest individual preseason honor, as senior quarterback Cade Klubnik was voted ACC Preseason Player of the Year, capturing a dominant 146 of 183 total votes. It was a loud and clear message: Clemson isn’t just back, but they’re coming with firepower.
Klubnik Leads the Charge
Klubnik’s rise from promising freshman to face of the league has been nothing short of electric. After leading the Tigers to the 2024 ACC Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance, the senior signal-caller is back with a full head of steam and national attention. Last season, Klubnik piled up 3,639 passing yards, 43 total touchdowns, and delivered highlight after highlight—including an FBS-best 21 touchdown passes of 20+ yards.
This fall, he’s not just trying to repeat history—he’s trying to rewrite it. With one of the deepest receiving corps in the ACC and a seasoned offensive line, Cade Klubnik has the tools, experience, and swagger to bring another title home to Tigertown.
A Tiger-Heavy Roster
Clemson’s 11 selections across the All-ACC team show the program’s remarkable depth and balance.
On offense, wide receivers Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco Jr. join Klubnik, giving the Tigers two dynamic playmakers out wide. The offensive line is anchored by tackle Blake Miller, guard Walker Parks, and center Ryan Linthicum—a core that could quietly become one of the most dominant fronts in the nation.
On defense, Clemson flexes even more muscle. T.J. Parker and Peter Woods form a ferocious defensive front, while Wade Woodaz and Sammy Brown—last year’s ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year—add serious speed and physicality to the linebacker unit. Avieon Terrell, who received 129 votes at cornerback, brings lockdown potential to the secondary.
If that sounds like a team with no weak links… that’s because it is.
Woodaz and Brown: The Next Great Clemson Duo
Among the many Tiger names on the list, it’s hard not to zero in on Sammy Brown—the sophomore linebacker who, in just one year, went from blue-chip prospect to conference standout. His partner in crime, Wade Woodaz, also made the preseason list, giving Clemson arguably the most exciting linebacker tandem in the ACC. Brown’s closing speed, instinctual reads, and raw athleticism have Tiger fans already drawing comparisons to past Clemson greats like Isaiah Simmons and Ben Boulware.
The Rest of the ACC Takes Notice
Behind Clemson, Pitt had the next most preseason selections with three, while Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, and SMU each had two players make the cut. Notably, both of last year’s ACC Rookies of the Year—Louisville’s Isaac Brown and Clemson’s Sammy Brown—earned preseason honors, marking a new generation of star power in the conference.
But with 11 players and the league’s top quarterback, Clemson enters 2025 not just as the ACC favorite, but as a legitimate national contender. There’s no rebuilding talk in Death Valley—just refining and reloading.
The Road to Charlotte
The season will once again come full circle in Charlotte, where the ACC Championship Game kicks off Saturday, Dec. 6 at Bank of America Stadium. If media predictions and preseason rosters are any indication, the Tigers will have every reason to believe they’ll be back in Queen City in December—this time chasing another crown.
For Clemson, the message is clear: the standard isn’t just to compete—it’s to dominate.
