One could very well argue that the weak link on the Clemson defense last season was defensive end.
Make no mistake, T.J. Parker was a menace on one side, particularly over the back half of the season. Parker finished with 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles. He earned second-team All-ACC honors by multiple outlets and was an honorable mention for All-American by Phil Steele.
However, the Tigers struggled to find consistency in the spot opposite of Parker. Cade Denhoff, Jahiem Lawson and AJ Hoffler all played significant snaps in an effort to find the right fit. The three combined for 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss all season. A failure to set the edge against the run plagued that side of the defensive line all season.
For that reason, Dabo Swinney went out and nabbed former Purdue standout Will Heldt out of the transfer portal. Heldt provides an immediate infusion of talent at the position and is expected to start opposite Parker.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound prospect appeared in all 24 of the Boilermakers games over his first two seasons at Purdue and as a sophomore, he recorded 56 tackles, 16 QB pressures, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks. He still has two years of eligibility.
Looking ahead to next season, Parker and Heldt should give the Tigers a formidable duo at defensive end.
The wildcard here could be Jeremiah Alexander, another portal addition. The former 5-star spent his first two seasons at Alabama as a linebacker, with most of his action coming on special teams.
While he is expected to start out at linebacker with the Tigers, Alexander is certainly capable of lining up on the line of scrimmage and getting after the quarterback. He gives new defensive coordinator Tom Allen one more weapon at his disposal when it comes to rushing the passer.
Denhoff and Lawson both return and will provide for some experienced depth. While AJ Hoffler ultimately transferred to Georgia Tech, Darien Mayo, who redshirted last season, could also enter the mix. The former 4-star recruit was a big-time prospect coming out of high school and many are high on his potential.
Clemson also signed 4-star Ari Watford in the 2025 recruiting class. Watford was an early enrollee but after tearing an ACL during the playoffs, he’s likely looking at a redshirt.
Outlook: With the addition of Heldt, this unit should be much improved in 2025, particularly against the run. Not to mention, having another elite-level pass rusher will not allow opponents to focus so much attention on Parker. The key will be keeping both he and Parker healthy. If one goes down, this defense might possibly find itself in the same spot it was in 2024.
2025 DE Room
- TJ Parker (Jr)
- Will Heldt (Jr)
- Cade Denhoff (R-Sr)
- Jahiem Lawson (R-Jr)
- Zaire Patterson (R-Sr)
- Armon Mason (R-Sr)
- Darien Mayo (R-Fr)
- Ari Watford (Fr)
Looking Ahead: 2025 Special Teams
Looking Ahead: 2025 Offensive Line
Looking Ahead: 2025 Wide Receivers
Looking Ahead: 2025 Tight Ends