It’s the time of year when college football’s annual preseason award watch lists are being announced. The Clemson Tigers have had a few players appear on those lists for 2025, including a pair of starters who landed on the Jim Thorpe and Dick Butkus Award preseason watch lists, respectively.
Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell was one of 35 players named to the Jim Thorpe Award 2025 Preseason Watch List, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Thorpe Association announced on Wednesday. The Thorpe Award is presented annually to the top defensive back in the nation.
Terrell, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound cornerback out of Westlake High School in Atlanta, enters his junior season with the Tigers. He started all 14 games a season ago and had two interceptions, one sack, 4.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles to go with 12 pass breakups. In two seasons at Clemson, Terrell has 77 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 16 pass breakups and three interceptions in 27 games (19 starts).
Terrell was also named to the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list this week. The Nagurski Trophy goes to the nation’s top defensive player. Moreover, Terrell recently made USA TODAY Sports’ All-ACC preseason team and is a projected first round pick in way-too-early 2026 NFL mock drafts from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Pro Football Focus (PFF).
From a press release:
“The field will be narrowed to up to 15 semifinalists on October 28, 2025. From that group, three finalists will be announced on November 25, 2025, with the winner revealed live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards at 7 p.m. ET on December 12, 2025.”
Clemson linebacker earns Butkus Award preseason honors
Clemson senior linebacker Wade Woodaz was one of the 51 players named to the Butkus Award Preseason Watch List on Wednesday, the Butkus Foundation announced. The Butkus Award is presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker. Isaiah Simmons is the only Clemson player to win the Butkus Award, taking home the honor in 2019.
Woodaz, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker out of Tampa, Florida, enters his senior season at Clemson after playing in 12 games (all starts) a year ago. He tied with Barrett Carter for the team lead in tackles with 82, and had 10.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and six passes defended as a junior in 2024.
In two seasons at Clemson, Woodaz has registered 130 tackles (66 solo), 21.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions over 39 games (18 starts).
Per a press release:
“Semifinalists will be named on November 4, while finalists will be announced on November 25. The winner will be revealed by December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in early 2026.”
Clemson football schedule 2025
Clemson opens the 2025 season against the LSU Tigers at Memorial Stadium in prime time on Aug. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ABC.
All times Eastern.
- Aug. 30: vs. LSU (7:30 p.m., ABC)
- Sept. 6: vs. Troy (3:30 p.m., ACC Network)
- Sept. 13: at Georgia Tech (12 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN)
- Sept. 20: vs. Syracuse
- Oct. 4: at North Carolina
- Oct. 11: at Boston College
- Oct. 18: vs. SMU
- Nov. 1: vs. Duke
- Nov. 8: vs. Florida State
- Nov. 14: at Louisville (8 p.m., ESPN)
- Nov. 22: vs. Furman
- Nov. 29: at South Carolina (12 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN)
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson starters on Butkus Award, Thorpe Award preseason watch lists