CHARLOTTE — Never has there been a crazier time in college athletics.

In a world where NIL and no-limit transfers coexist, tampering is as rampant as ever, with schools attempting to lure players who hadn’t even entertained the idea of leaving their current schools into the portal each and every offseason.

Such was the case for Clemson’s standout defensive end, TJ Parker, late last year. After the Tigers’ season ended with a loss at Texas in the opening round of the College Football Playoff, Parker was on the receiving end of multiple offers, despite never having entered his name in the transfer portal.

However, despite some lucrative opportunities, Parker knew he was already home.

“I never had a doubt I was leaving. I had no doubt, I would never leave,” Parker said during the ACC Kickoff. “It was what it was. That is home base.”

While Parker never really entertained the idea of leaving, a conversation with his mother really helped drive the point home.

“Obviously, schools were going to reach out, throw millions and millions of dollars out there. It is what it is,” Parker added. “My mom told me one thing, and it resonated with me. That you can go leave and get all the money in the world that you want to, but why leave when you’ve got coaches you love, you’ve got friends you’ve built there outside of football, you’ve got a fiancé, why give up all that to go chase a dollar? You have the best coaches you can get in the whole country right there helping you develop. Why have to reintroduce yourself into a new environment?”

After a remarkable debut season that saw Parker earn freshman All-American honors from multiple outlets, he was only better as a sophomore, particularly over the second half of the season. Parker finished with 64 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and his six forced fumbles set a new school record.

Heading into his junior season, Parker is already being projected as a first-round pick in next spring’s NFL Draft, and with what he’s already been able to accomplish at Clemson, Parker never felt the need to go anywhere else.

“Clemson has blessed me with the opportunity that I will be forever grateful for,” Parker said. “There was no point in me leaving when I have everything right here.”

Photo courtesy of Nell Redmond/ACC