Avieon Terrell CB Clemson | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Avieon Terrell CB Clemson
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/07/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.39 seconds (86%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 20.3 DOB: 01/11/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 05/07/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.39 seconds (86%*) | |
| Age: 20.3 DOB: 01/11/2005 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 87.3 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 65.5 | |
| Tackling: |
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66% |
| Run Defense: |
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91% |
| Coverage: |
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81% |
| Zone: |
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76% |
| Man/Press: |
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80% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Late
Overall Rank:
#27
Position rank:
#4
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| College Games: 23 College Snaps: 1207 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jalen Pitre - Baylor |
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88% |
| Benjamin Morrison - Notre Dame |
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87% |
| Cam Smith - South Carolina |
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84% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The Terrell legacy continues with Avieon, who has carved out his own identity at Clemson despite walking in the considerable shadow of his brother, All-Pro cornerback A.J. Terrell. Coming from Atlanta's Westlake High School, Terrell arrived in Death Valley as more than just a sibling connection – he was a complete football player who made impacts in all three phases of the game. After getting his feet wet with 375 snaps over 13 games (five starts) as a freshman, Terrell vaulted himself into the national spotlight with a breakout sophomore campaign in 2024, starting all 14 games and logging a staggering 816 defensive snaps – the most by a Tiger cornerback since 2016.The numbers tell the story of a defensive playmaker extraordinaire: 64 tackles (4.5 for loss), 13 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and a sack. His 13 PBUs tied the Clemson sophomore record and established him as the most disruptive Tiger defender in the secondary since 2014. Terrell became the first player under Dabo Swinney to finish a season with at least three forced fumbles, multiple interceptions, and multiple fumble recoveries. His remarkable performance earned him second-team All-ACC honors and cemented his status as one of college football's elite defensive backs heading into his junior season.
Beyond the football pedigree, Terrell brings legitimate track speed to the position, having been part of Westlake's state championship 4×100 relay team and posting 100-meter times in the 10.97-11.33 range. That athleticism translates to football that allows him to erase recovery distance when needed. However, what truly separates Terrell from other athletic corners is his anticipatory skill and football instinct – traits that have been cultivated since his days as a multi-faceted high school star who scored touchdowns as a receiver, returner, and defender.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional fluidity and change-of-direction skills allow him to mirror receivers throughout their routes without losing coverage leverage or body position.
- Displays natural ball-tracking ability downfield reminiscent of a wide receiver – can locate and adjust to the football while maintaining position on his assignment.
- Brings remarkable physicality to the run game despite his modest frame – demonstrates rare commitment and tenacity for a cover corner who primarily excels in coverage.
- Shows the closing burst and calculated aggression to separate receivers from the football at the catch point without drawing penalties.
- Top-tier play recognition – processes route combinations quickly which allows him to jump underneath routes or maintain discipline on double moves.
- Possesses rare ball-dislodging ability with three forced fumbles in 2024 – shows technical refinement in how he attacks the football.
- Versatile defender who excels in both man and zone coverage schemes, giving him valuable scheme flexibility at the next level.
- Brings electric return ability from his high school days (32.1 yards per kickoff return, 15.8 yards per punt return) that could provide added value to NFL teams.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Undersized frame at 180 pounds will raise durability concerns despite his willingness to mix it up in run support.
- Can be overly aggressive jumping routes, occasionally leaving himself vulnerable to double moves and vertical stems when he anticipates incorrectly.
- Tackling technique needs refinement – despite good effort and pursuit angles, he relies too often on arm tackles and lunging attempts that won't consistently bring down NFL ball carriers.
- Will need to add functional strength to consistently defeat blocks from bigger receivers and tight ends at the next level.
- Sometimes relies too heavily on athleticism rather than technique, which won't translate as cleanly against NFL-caliber route runners.
Scouting Report: Summary
Terrell thrives in a defense that lets corners challenge receivers at the line and trusts them to recover if beaten. His fluid hips and explosive closing burst make him deadly in press-man coverage, where he can disrupt timing and force quarterbacks to look elsewhere. What separates him from other man-coverage specialists is his surprising play strength and willingness to stick his nose in the run game – rare traits for a corner with his lean frame that give him legitimate three-down value.The team that lands Terrell gets more than just another coverage guy – they're adding a defensive playmaker with a knack for creating momentum-shifting turnovers. His ability to punch the ball out (three forced fumbles) and high-point interceptions shows up consistently on film. These aren't luck plays; they're calculated strikes from a defender who hunts the football. While some scouts will fixate on his 180-pound frame, smart defensive coordinators will see a complete corner who impacts games in multiple ways and brings the same dog mentality his brother A.J. showed at Clemson.
His ideal landing spot would be with a defensive coordinator who emphasizes aggressive man coverage and values corners who can create turnovers. His combination of technical skill, athletic traits, and bloodlines make him one of the safest defensive back prospects in this class despite size limitations. When the ball's in the air, Terrell plays bigger than his measurements suggest – and that's what matters on Sundays.
How other scouting services rate Avieon Terrell (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
21.4
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
3.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.