Clemson is loaded with talent and depth along the defensive line, so it’s no surprise where the Tigers landed on this list.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked the top 10 defensive lines in college football heading into the 2025 season, and Clemson’s D-line claimed the No. 1 spot.
The interior defensive line has routinely been one of Clemson’s deepest positions, and 2025 should be no different. The Tigers return a lot of experience, including Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart. There is also plenty of talent behind Woods and Capehart, as Stephiylan Green returns, and so does Vic Burley, Champ Thompson and Hevin Brown-Shuler. Incoming freshmen Makhi Williams-Lee and five-star Amare Adams also join the fray.
As for defensive end, T.J. Parker and Will Heldt should give the Tigers a formidable duo.
Parker was a menace on one side last season, particularly over the back half of the year. He finished with 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles, earning second-team All-ACC honors and being named an honorable mention for All-American by Phil Steele. Heldt, the former Purdue standout, is expected to start opposite Parker and provides an immediate infusion of talent at the position. Cade Denhoff and Jahiem Lawson both return and will provide some experienced depth at D-end. Denhoff and Lawson both return and will provide for some experienced depth. Darien Mayo, who redshirted last season, could also enter the mix.
Here’s what PFF’s Max Chadwick had to say about Clemson as the nation’s best defensive line entering the 2025 campaign:
Two projected top-10 picks in defensive tackle Peter Woods and edge defender T.J. Parker spearhead the Tigers’ defensive front. Woods is my top returning interior defender and leads all returning Power Four defensive tackles in run-defense grade (89.7) and pass-rush win rate (14.9%) since 2023. Parker is my No. 3 edge rusher and led all returning Power Four edge defenders with 12 sacks last season. He was also one of only three in that same group who earned 80.0-plus grades both as a pass-rusher and run defender.
Clemson also added Purdue edge defender Will Heldt via the transfer portal, and he was fourth among Big Ten edge defenders with 36 defensive stops last year. DeMonte Capehart and Stephiylan Green are also back at defensive tackle and each earned 70.0-plus PFF grades in 2024. Cade Denhoff and Jahiem Lawson provide depth at edge defender and each played over 300 snaps last season, and the Tigers also added a five-star defensive tackle in freshman Amare Adams.
Alabama is No. 2 in PFF’s D-line rankings, while Texas Tech, Florida and Penn State round out the top five.
Along with Clemson, one other ACC team made PFF’s list of college football’s top D-lines, with Miami checking in at No. 8.