Pro Football Focus’ Top 50: LSU & Clemson

Link to PFF Article: https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-pff50-ranking-50-best-players-2025

“ Using PFF’s exclusive data and grading, we’ve identified the most dominant and valuable players in the country, based not on hype but on proven production and projection. Whether it’s a future first-round quarterback or a breakout edge rusher primed for a monster year, these are the 50 names every college football fan needs to know this fall.”

These are the players that are on that list from LSU and Clemson. Clemson has 4 players on the list, 3 on defense and 1 on offense.  LSU has 2 players on the list, 1 on defense and 1 on offense.  This highlights one of the big storylines of this monumental opening game: This is the old school system represented by Clemson of not many transfers being added to the mix. That should make it an easier program to prepare for because of the known elements.  What LSU coaches know is that Clemson is really good on both sides of the ball. On the other side of the storyline is LSU, a school that hit the transfer portal hard and brought in pieces that should strengthen LSU on both sides of the ball but, despite good reports coming out of LSU, no one will really know until they take the field in August. The other thing that is harder to guess is exactly how to prepare for LSU. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik indicated that he is preparing for a Blake Baker coached defense. That’s probably a good idea and a good indicator of how Clemson is preparing for the LSU game. However, I am not sure a scheme can account for Jack Pyburn, Patrick Payton, and Bernard Gooden, and Sydir Mitchell  being added to the mix of LSU’s defensive line. What is that going to be like when added to the d-line rotation that includes 2nd year, experienced linemen: Gabriel Reliford, Dominick McKinley, and Ahmed Breaux, as well as a healthy returning Jacobian Guillory. I know that Clemson is bringing in a bit of a not entirely known mixin coach, new DC Tom Allen, but, LSU has a new d-line coach that should impact the culture of intensity and knowledge from experience of successfully playing defensive line at the NFL level (Kyle Williams).  If you follow the media and known data, LSU is clearly the underdog. That historically inspires LSU and with many many unknowable factors this game is shaping up to very very interesting.  Below is the promised list from PFF’s Top 50 list: 

 

3. DI Peter Woods, Clemson

Woods spent most of his sophomore season playing out of position at edge defender, yet he still earned an impressive 83.3 PFF overall grade. Over his first two years of college football, he is both the highest-graded and most valuable returning Power Four defensive tackle, according to PFF WAA.

Woods leads all returning Power Four interior defenders in PFF run-defense grade (89.7) and pass-rush win rate (14.9%) since 2023. His combination of power and agility, at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, makes him a nightmarish matchup for opposing offensive linemen.

7. QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson

There may not have been a more improved quarterback in college football this past season than Klubnik. After placing 102nd among FBS signal-callers in 2023 with a 63.9 PFF passing grade, he ranked fifth in 2024 (87.7). Only Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders threw more touchdowns than the junior (36). Klubnik also ranked fifth in big-time throws (28). 

The top quarterback recruit in the 2022 class is finally starting to live up to the hype and has the potential to take a loaded Clemson roster to the promised land as a senior.

10. EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson

Between Parker and Peter Woods, the Tigers currently project to have the first edge defender and defensive tackle selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Parker's 12 sacks in 2024 led all returning Power Four edge rushers, and he is one of three who posted 80.0-plus PFF grades both as a pass rusher and a run defender. 

Parker brings a devastating bull rush, thanks to his power at 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds. He has the makings of a top-10 selection next April if he can put together a similarly strong junior year.

23. QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

After sitting on the bench for three years, Nussmeier finally received his chance to start for the Tigers as a redshirt junior. He extended the flashes of brilliance he had as a backup across a full season, finishing the year with the fifth-most passing yards in the nation (4,043) and tying for seventh in big-time throws (26). 

Nussmeier is still a bit of a gunslinger, as he ranked in the bottom 20 in turnover-worthy plays (18). He also adds virtually nothing as a runner, with his 93 rushing yards in 2024 being easily the fewest of anyone on this list. But he’s still a tough quarterback who is fearless in the pocket and capable of making almost any throw on the field.

27. CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

The younger brother of Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, Avieon is projected to follow in his brother’s footsteps from Clemson to the first round of the NFL draft. The younger Terrell is a much better run defender, placing fourth among cornerbacks in PFF run-defense grade this past season (90.7). He also forced three fumbles, tied for the second most. Terrell is excellent in coverage, as well, leading all Power Four cornerbacks with 14 forced incompletions in 2024. 

He stands at just 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, but Terrell plays with outstanding physicality for the position and has the speed to stick with receivers in man coverage.

44. LB Whit Weeks, LSU

While Harold Perkins Jr. drew most of the preseason hype at LSU last year, it was Whit Weeks who emerged as the breakout star.

Weeks was a disruptive force as a sophomore, consistently making plays behind the line of scrimmage. His 21 tackles for loss or no gain ranked fourth among all linebackers nationally, and his 25 quarterback pressures placed him in the top 15 at the position. His quick trigger and closing speed make him one of the most instinctive defenders in college football.