Clemson's Ashton Hampton Receives Major Prediction for 2027 NFL Draft

The Clemson Tigers have some elite talent on the roster heading into the 2026 season. Clemson will be looking for a complete turnaround after finishing with a 7-6 record and missing the College Football Playoff and the ACC Title Game.

That led head coach Dabo Swinney to add more talent via the transfer portal and make changes to the coaching staff, hiring Chad Morris as the offensive coordinator and Rich Bisaccia as the special teams coordinator.

With all the changes made, Swinney hopes the Tigers will be more competitive in the 2026 season. A key factor in accomplishing that will be the production of their star players, like cornerback Ashton Hampton.

Hampton enters the year as one of the best cornerbacks in college football. In Bleacher Report's 2027 NFL Mock Draft, Hampton is predicted to land with the New York Jets with the 12th overall pick.

"Hampton has the makings of a physical, top-flight corner, who brings it in man coverage and adds a willingness against the run with excellent tackling ability," Bleacher Report scout Dan Harms said. "The 6'2", 205-pound defensive back locates the football down the field and uses his superior length to impact the catch-point. He'd either give Aaron Glenn the type of defensive back the former NFL DB likely craves or brings New York's next coaching staff the kind of mentality it'll want in the secondary."

He is one of the best cornerbacks in college football and could fly off the board in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Hampton has been a quality piece for the Tigers' defense over his first two years. In the 2024 season, Hampton had 27 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, five pass deflections, and two interceptions.

He was one of the few bright spots for Clemson in 2025, recording 45 total tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and nine pass deflections.

Hampton is a great boundary corner, and the Tigers will need him to take another step in the 2026 season.

Clemson has some quality talent on the roster, like Hampton, and with the changes Swinney has made, they could have a bounce-back year ahead.