A couple of former Clemson stars were recognized among the NFL’s best individual performers in 2024.
Pro Football Focus recently released its PFF 101, ranking the top 101 NFL players from this past season.
Two Clemson products – Dexter Lawrence and Tee Higgins – made the list.
Lawrence checked in at No. 53.
Lawrence is fresh off his third straight Pro Bowl selection after also earning Pro Bowl honors in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He became the first New York Giants player to be voted to three straight Pro Bowls since safety Landon Collins from 2016-18.
Lawrence saw his 2024 season end early with an elbow injury on Nov. 28 against Dallas. But in his 12 games this past season, the 2019 first-round pick (17th overall) posted a career-high 9.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss while also recording 44 total tackles, 16 quarterback hits, a forced fumble and one pass defended.
“Lawrence continues to play like one of the best defensive tackles in football, earning a top-three grade at the position for the third straight season,” PFF wrote. “In fact, he was the only interior defender in the league with 80-plus grades both as a pass-rusher and run defender in 2024. Lawrence’s nine sacks on the season were the third most among defensive tackles as well.”
Higgins, meanwhile, appeared at No. 80 in the PFF 101.
Higgins played under the franchise tag in 2024, as he and the Cincinnati Bengals weren’t able to reach a long-term deal last offseason. The 2020 second-round pick (33rd overall) dealt with injuries this past season but was still highly productive when on the field, posting 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games. His 10 touchdown catches tied for sixth most in the NFL.
Higgins was widely considered the best player slated to become a free agent this offseason. However, the Bengals are reportedly focused on signing Higgins to a long-term deal and are expected to use the franchise tag on him again.
“Unless he gets strapped with the franchise tag, Higgins will enter the 2025 offseason as the PFF’s top available free agent,” PFF wrote. “Despite missing five games with a hamstring injury, Higgins rallied to produce the best receiving grade (88.3) of his career. That mark placed him as the seventh-highest-graded receiver in the NFL this season, due in part to his innate ability to find the end zone. Higgins finished the season as one of two receivers to notch double-digit touchdowns of 500 or fewer receiving snaps.”