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Five most important players Dabo Swinney retained for the 2025 Clemson football roster
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- Five most important players Dabo Swinney retained for the 2025 Clemson football roster
(This article was updated to add new information.)
Clemson football will return many of its key starters for the 2025 season in hopes of making a deeper run in the CFP.
Tigers coach Dabo Swinney has touted the program's retention rate of players in the transfer portal and NIL era, and it has delivered stronger results than in 2023 when Clemson lost two starters to the portal. Clemson has not lost any of its end-of-year starters who have eligibility remaining this offseason
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The five Tiger players who entered the transfer portal this cycle were depth or rotational players. The Tigers' NIL collective, the 110 Society, also announced the signing of deals with numerous Clemson starters on X, formerly Twitter, in the final days of 2024.
Starting wide receiver Antonio Williams announced his return to Clemson on Friday morning, and the team is still awaiting right tackle Blake Miller 's decision as he can either forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft or return for his fourth season.
Here are five notable players who will be returning to Clemson for the 2025 season.
QB Cade Klubnik
To be successful in college football, teams need a superb quarterback, and the Tigers will get Cade Klubnik for a third season. He showed vast improvement in his second season as a full-time starter in 2024, recording 3,639 yards passing (seventh most in Clemson's history) with 36 touchdowns (tied for second most) and six interceptions. He also rushed for 463 yards and seven touchdowns.
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Klubnik put on a strong performance against Texas , the No. 2 scoring defense at the time, throwing for 336 yards for three touchdowns and one interception. He will return for a third season under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and have his starting wide-receiver trio back.
DL T.J. Parker
Clemson's top pass rusher, T.J. Parker, is back for his third season. He logged a team-high 11 sacks and set a single-season program record for forced fumbles with six in 2024. He is a disruptive force that can get to the quarterback and set edges against the run.
Parker will look to improve more in his junior year, and he will have help on the edge with incoming Purdue transfer Will Heldt .
MORE: How Clemson football will replace these 5 valuable players for 2025 season
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DL Peter Woods
Parker will also be supported on the line with Peter Woods returning for his third season. He battled injuries throughout last year but is a dominant force that can play anywhere on the defensive line when healthy.
Woods made 28 tackles, including three sacks, and forced one fumble. He is a key component against the run and generating pressure against quarterbacks. He and Parker as juniors should elevate Clemson's pass rush that recorded 35 sacks, tied for seventh most in the ACC.
WR Bryant Wesco Jr.
Bryant Wesco Jr. was one of two talented freshman wide receivers that ignited Clemson's offense last year. He recorded 41 receptions for 708 yards receiving (second most on the Tigers) and five touchdowns. He led Clemson in yards per catch with 17.3 too to help him earn freshman All-America honors.
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Wesco's speed and route running allowed the Tigers to hit on many explosive plays. He will be joined by wide receiver T.J. Moore , who had 45 catches for 651 yards and five touchdowns. Moore erupted against Texas' stout pass defense, setting a single-game career high in receptions (nine) and receiving yards (116). This duo will be key for Clemson's offense to remain dynamic in 2025.
LB Sammy Brown
With linebacker Barrett Carter heading to the NFL, Sammy Brown will step up alongside Wade Woodaz . Brown, a five-star freshman last year, finished third on the team with tackles with 80, including 11.5 for loss. He also had five sacks and three pass deflections.
Brown earned freshman All-America distinction and became the seventh Clemson player to record double-digit tackles for loss as a true freshman. He has a nose for the football and led the team or tied for the most tackles seven times last season.
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Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney: Clemson coach's 5 best players retained for 2025 roster
