We continue our 2026 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at Clemson cornerback, Avieon Terrell
Avieon Terrell
CB
Clemson
Junior
3-star recruit
5’11”
186 lbs
History
Avieon Terrell is an Atlanta native whose football background is strongly tied to family lineage and high-level defensive back play. He’s the younger brother of A.J. Terrell, and continues the family lineage while carving out his own identity as a playmaking, all-purpose athlete.
As a freshman in 2023,
Terrell played immediately, participating in 13 games with five starts. The stat line was modest but promising with 19 total tackles and one interception, plus four pass breakups. A standout moment from that year is his first career interception with a one-handed grab against Georgia Tech showing early ball skills and flash that foreshadowed the turnover profile that would become his trademark.
In 2024, he became a full-time impact defender and his production jumped across the board. In 14 games he made 58 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. This is the season where he started to look like a true NFL corner making more plays on the ball, more involvement in run support, and an expanded usage which was seen in his tackles for loss totals.
In 2025, Terrell’s role broadened even further into playmaker weapon territory. He finished 12 games with 48 tackles, 4.5 TFL, three sacks, nine pass breakups, and five forced fumbles, which became the defining headline of his 2025 season, leading all cornerbacks nationally in forced fumbles.
2025 Statistics
653 Defensive Snaps
48 Total Tackles
5 Tackles for Loss
3 Sacks
9 Pass Breakups
0 Interceptions
5 Forced Fumbles
1 Fumble Recovery
5 Missed Tackles
56% Reception Percentage Allowed
3 TD Allowed
96.9 Passer Rating Allowed
2 Penalties
Snap by Postion
Box- 11%
Slot- 16%
Wide- 70%
NFL Combine/Pro Day
Awards
2025: First-Team All-ACC
All-American
2024: Second-Team All-ACC
Scorecard
Overall– 85.5
Speed- 88
Acceleration- 90
Agility- 85
Strength- 67
Tackling- 79
Run Defense- 90
Man Coverage- 82
Zone Coverage- 77
Press- 85
Discipline- 82
THE GOOD
- His punch-out and strip technique to create forced-fumble production is rare for a cornerback.
- High-end ball disruption at the catch point with frequent PBUs.
- Good timing and hand usage, and plays through receivers without panicking.
- Twitchy feet and loose hips to crate clean transitions, quick change of direction, and the ability to mirror routes in tight space.
- Undercuts routes and arrives on the throw fast.
- Inside-out versatility with credible slot or nickel options, but can also play outside.
- Advanced zone eyes and route recognition for a young corner.
- Plays more physical than his size.
THE BAD
- Undersized with a slight frame so can get boxed out by bigger receivers in contested-catch situations.
- Needs more functional strength for consistent press and to hold up in run support.
- Bigger receivers can bully him at the top of routes.
- His competitive style can lead to holds or DPI calls when stressed vertically.
- Can be a half-step late getting hands on against speed releases.
- Has a lack of interceptions in college, only three interceptions in three years at Clemson.
- He wins with quick-twitch and reactivity more than consistent route recognition, which can create late steps.
- Durability concerns on playing inside at nickel against heavier personnel and taking repeated contact over an NFL season.
THE FIT
Terrell fits best as an aggressive CB2 in a man-match defense that values disruption. Teams that live in Cover 1/Cover 3 match and aren’t afraid to blitz their corners will love Terrell because his calling card is competitive press or off-man coverage plus true playmaking potential.
SUMMARY
Avieon Terrell is an undersized but highly competitive, twitchy corner whose defining trait is disruption. He mirrors routes well, plays with aggressive leverage, and consistently gets his hands on the football. On tape he looks like a quick-trigger athlete with loose hips and good closing burst, comfortable in man-match coverage and willing to tackle and blitz, which gives him real nickel or CB2 weapon value. The main concerns are size and strength, and how that translates against big-bodied NFL X receivers.
Overall, his projection is a starting-caliber slot-outside hybrid who can change games with turnovers and negative plays if he lands in a scheme that lets him play aggressive with defined help rules.
PRO COMPARISON
Jason Verrett
BTB OVERALL RANKING
22nd
CONSENSUS OVERALL RANKING
20th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)
