Final projections for Clemson football players ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft

During the past 15 years, Alabama’s the only school in the country to produce more NFL Draft picks than Clemson, which has 71 under coach Dabo Swinney since 2008.

The Tigers will add to that total this weekend as the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway in Kansas City, Missouri.

The draft starts Thursday with the first round, continues Friday with the second and third rounds and wraps Saturday with rounds four through seven.

Defensive end Myles Murphy, defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and linebacker Trenton Simpson are the top draft prospects for Clemson — all projected to go across the top two rounds — and the reigning ACC champions had five other players earn NFL Combine invites.

So, expect much more action this time around than in 2022, when Clemson had an uncharacteristically low two draft picks.

The Tigers under Swinney have produced at least five selections in three of the past four NFL Drafts and seven of the past nine drafts.

Here’s an updated look at some final mock draft projections for notable Clemson players, including information from seven-round mock drafts at The Athletic, ESPN and NFL.com and a number of other first-round mocks.

DE Myles Murphy

The specs: 6-foot-5, 268 pounds

The skinny: A former top-5 national recruit who was a Freshman All-American for Clemson’s 2020 College Football Playoff semifinal team … One of only two Power Five players in the country to record at least 35 tackles for loss and at least six forced fumbles across the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons … Tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks in 2022 and was a first-team all-conference selection … Impressed with a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at a private workout but has been trending down from the middle to the bottom of the first round in recent months

• The Athletic (Dane Brugler): No. 12 (first round) to the Houston Texans

• CBS Sports (Jonathan Jones): No. 24 (first round) to the Jacksonville Jaguars

• ESPN (Mel Kiper and Todd McShay): No. 30 (first round) to the Philadelphia Eagles

• ESPN (Matt Miller): No. 20 (first round) to the Seattle Seahawks

• NFL.com (Chad Reuter): No. 29 (first round) to New Orleans Saints

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein): Round 1

• USA TODAY (Nate Davis): No. 26 (first round) to the Dallas Cowboys

DT Bryan Bresee

The specs: 6-foot-5 1/2, 298 pounds

The skinny: A former No. 1 overall recruit who won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 for a CFP qualifier … Had 15.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks in 26 career games (21 starts) … Third team All-ACC pick in 2021 despite playing in just four games before a torn ACL … Missed four games in 2022 amid injuries and the tragic death of his younger sister, Ella, due to brain cancer … Trending as an early second-round pick who, if healthy, could very well have his best football ahead of him

• The Athletic (Brugler): No. 24 (first round) to the Jacksonville Jaguars

• CBS Sports (Jones): Outside of first round

• ESPN (Kiper and McShay): No. 29 (first round) to the New Orleans Saints

• ESPN (Miller): No. 38 (second round) to the Las Vegas Raiders

• NFL.com (Reuter): No. 37 (second round) to the Seattle Seahawks

• NFL.com (Zierlein): Round 2

• USA TODAY (Davis): Outside of first round

LB Trenton Simpson

The specs: 6-foot-2, 235 pounds

The skinny: Versatile and athletic linebacker who started 24 of his last 25 games for Clemson after a strong freshman campaign … Had 78 tackles as a sophomore and 77 as a junior while compiling 22.5 career tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks … Predominately played the “SAM” strongside linebacker spot for Clemson, his likely NFL position, but also spent time at “WILL” weakside linebacker … Viewed as very solid but not elite prospect who should go in Round 2

• The Athletic (Brugler): No. 38 (second round) to the Las Vegas Raiders

• CBS Sports (Jones): Outside of first round

• ESPN (Kiper and McShay): No. 27 (first round) to the Buffalo Bills

• ESPN (Miller): No. 44 (second round) to the Atlanta Falcons

• NFL.com (Reuter): No. 26 (first round) to the Dallas Cowboys

• NFL.com (Zierlein): Round 2

• USA TODAY (Davis): Outside of first round

TE Davis Allen

The specs: 6-foot-6, 245 pounds

The skinny: Caught 12 touchdowns at Clemson, which tied three others for the second most by a tight end in program history … Athletic, jump-ball receiver who set career highs with 39 catches and 443 yards in 2022 … Also considered a solid blocker and played special teams throughout his college career … A reliable mid-round option with proven ability

• The Athletic (Brugler): No. 104 (fourth round) to the Houston Texas

• ESPN (Miller): No. 109 (fourth round) to the Las Vegas Raiders

• NFL.com (Reuter): No. 133 (fourth round) to the Chicago Bears

• NFL.com (Zierlein): Round 5

DE K.J. Henry

The specs: 6-foot-4, 251 pounds

The skinny: May have been Clemson’s most improved player in 2022 as a fifth-year senior, earning third-team All America honors from Pro Football Focus … Recorded 24 quarterback pressures, the most by a Clemson player since 2016, as well as 9.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his first year as a regular starter … Trending as a late round depth selection

• The Athletic (Brugler): No. 137 (fifth round) to the Buffalo Bills

• ESPN (Miller): No. 138 (fifth round) to the Indianapolis Colts

• NFL.com (Reuter): No. 111 overall (fourth round) to the Seattle Seahawks

• NFL.com (Zierlein): Rounds 4-5

OL Jordan McFadden

The specs: 6-foot-2, 305 pounds

The skinny: Came to Clemson as a three-star recruit and left as the winner of the ACC’s Jacobs Trophy, presented to the league’s top blocking offensive lineman … Started all 14 games at left tackle in 2022 and was a first-team All ACC pick … Also played right tackle earlier at Clemson but will transition to playing center or more likely guard as a pro due to his size

• The Athletic (Brugler): No. 167 (fifth round) to the Los Angeles Rams

• ESPN (Miller): No. 188 (sixth round) to the Houston Texans

• NFL.com (Reuter): No. 162 (fifth round) to the Indianapolis Colts

• NFL.com (Zierlein): Rounds 4-5

Updates for WR Joseph Ngata, K B.T. Potter

Clemson had two more players invited to the NFL combine, wide receiver Joseph Ngata and kicker B.T. Potter, but neither player is popping up on mock drafts.

Seven-round mocks from The Athletic, ESPN and NFL.com all have Ngata and Potter going drafted. More likely than not, they’ll be pursued by teams as priority undrafted free agents after the draft’s conclusion.

Ngata, a former five-star recruit by some services, had a career-high 526 receiving yards in 2022 but struggled with injuries and consistency throughout his career. Potter, a local kicker from Rock Hill’s South Pointe High School, was a steady four-year starter for the Tigers.

How to watch the 2023 NFL Draft

• What: 2023 NFL Draft

• When: Thursday, Friday, Saturday

• Where: Kansas City, Missouri

• Round 1: Thursday at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network)

• Rounds 2-3: Friday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network)

• Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 29, at noon ET (ESPN with ABC simulcast, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network)