Best Clemson cornerbacks and Tigers 2025 season preview

Donnell Woolford stands as the gold standard at cornerback in Clemson’s history. A true shutdown corner, Woolford was a standout on some terrific defenses in the 1980s and had a strong NFL career. But there have been many names through the years who have made their mark at the position at Clemson and into the NFL. That includes a recent run of Mackensie Alexander, AJ Terrell, Trayvon Mullen and Nate Wiggins.

In between, let’s not forget Tye Hill, Byron Maxwell, Marcus Gilchrist, Coty Sensabaugh, Chris Chancellor and many, many more.

For 2025, Clemson cornerbacks Avieon Terrell and Ashton Hampton are poised to lead the Tigers secondary in taking on opponents’ passing attacks – and will be challenged Week 1 in the home opener against LSU in the real Death Valley.

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson cornerbacks?

• Mackensie Alexander (2013-15) -– 52 tackles, 12 pass break-ups (PBU)
• Donnell Woolford –- First-team All-American, first-round NFL Draft pick, career PBU leader(44), 187 tackles, 10 INT, 12 TFL
• AJ Terrell –- First-round NFL Draft pick, 107 tackles, 6 INT, 20 PBU
• Nate Wiggins (2021-23) –- First-round NFL Draft pick, 50 tackles, 3 INT, 24 PBU 
• Tye Hill (2003-05) –- First-round NFL Draft pick, 143 tackles, 5 INT, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, 35 PBU
• Trayvon Mullen Jr. (2016-18) -– 94 tackles, 4 INT, 12 PBU
• Byron Maxwell (2007-10) –- 152 tackles, 13 TFL, 4 INT, 6 forced fumbles
• Bashaud Breeland (2011-13) –- 159 tackles, 6 INT, 24 starts, 2012 injury cost him some time
• Chris Chancellor (2006-09) –- 32 PBU (6th all time), 9 INT, 44 starts tops CBs all time, 157 tackles
  

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2025 Clemson Football Season Previews with Best-All-Time Tigers by Position

Each podcast episode covers both the season preview and the best all-time Clemson Tigers at each position, while each blogs is shorter and only covers either the best ever or the 2025 preview. Here are all the links you could need!

Clemson Defensive Tackles

Podcast, https://youtu.be/G7BSHStxmBA 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-defensive-tackles-2025-season-preview

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/peter-woods-demonte-capehart-power-clemsons-defensive-tackles-in-2025-quick-look

Clemson Defensive Ends

Podcast, https://youtu.be/kO_I18rNt_I

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-defensive-ends-daquan-bowers-vic-beasley-shone-in-death-valley-plus-t.j.-parker-leads-2025-tigers-des-season-preview

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/t.j.-parker-forges-clemson-defensive-ends-path-ahead-quick-look

Clemson Linebackers

Podcast, https://youtu.be/c8S1Ib1IFQk

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time:  https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/levon-kirkland-jeff-davis-best-ever-clemson-linebackers-plus-tigers-2025-lbs-preview-includes-sammy-brown

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/sammy-brown-wade-woodaz-pace-clemson-linebackers-in-2025-quick-look

Clemson Safeties 

Podcast, https://youtu.be/3qHwV1cCt84   

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-ever-clemson-safeties-brian-dawkins-set-standard-chased-by-others-including-khalil-barnes-in-2025  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/khalil-barnes-keys-clemsons-safeties-in-2025-quick-look   

Clemson Cornerbacks

Podcast: https://youtu.be/gaSVwe_ueZM 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-cornerbacks-and-tigers-2025-season-preview    

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/avieon-terrell-ashton-hampton-lead-clemson-cornerbacks-in-2025  

Clemson Wide Receivers

Podcast, https://youtu.be/s0mQ70__Bq4  

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-wide-receivers-2025-preview-tigers-wr-best-all-timer  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-wide-receiver-room-boasts-bryant-wesco-antonio-williams-t.j.-moore-and-more-in-2025-quick-look  

Clemson Tight Ends

Podcast, https://youtu.be/5GS6EKIMhag 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-tight-ends-all-time-bennie-cunningham-dwayne-allen-tigers-2025-te-preview 

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/olsen-patt-henry-steers-clemsons-tight-ends-in-2025-quick-look  

Clemson Offensive Line

Podcast, https://youtu.be/pqoXa9D_LZA   

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-ever-clemson-offensive-linemen-john-simpson-joe-bostic-plus-tigers-2025-season-preview  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview,  https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/blake-miller-tristan-leigh-bookend-clemson-offensive-line-in-2025

Clemson Running Backs

Podcast, https://youtu.be/GTkz93TxyGI 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-running-backs-travis-etienne-will-shipley-followed-footsteps-of-c.j.-spiller-terry-allen-many-more 

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/adam-randall-sparks-clemson-running-backs-in-2025-quick-look  

Clemson Quarterbacks

Podcast, https://youtu.be/d2fX1Gs1oVg  

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-quarterbacks-all-time-and-tigers-2025-qbs-preview  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-quarterback-cade-klubnik-critical-to-tigers-2025-quick-look