Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen says Jahiem Lawson should have played more in last Saturday’s game against SMU.

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound defensive end was on the field for 22 defensive snaps in the Tigers’ 35-24 loss to the Mustangs at Memorial Stadium. He posted two tackles, including one for a loss.

“I think Jahiem should’ve played more on Saturday, when you look at the snap counts and the rep counts,” Allen said on Tuesday. “So, that’s something obviously we’ll address.”

A redshirt junior, Lawson came into this season credited with 31 tackles (4.5 for loss), one sack, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 405 career defensive snaps over 19 games (four starts) from 2022-24.

Lawson has played 182 total snaps across seven games this season. He has recorded 18 total tackles (five for loss), 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and two quarterback pressures.

Allen says Lawson has been a pleasant surprise in 2025.

“To me, he’s been one of the pleasant surprises of the group, in terms of just how disruptive he’s been,” Allen said. “And to me, he’s obviously an undersized guy, but he plays so hard and he’s a really good pass rusher and has a great feel for that.

“So, yeah, there’s no question his reps need to go up.”

Lawson, a product of nearby Daniel High School, enrolled at Clemson back in the summer of 2022. He helped Daniel to back-to-back SCHSL Class 3A titles in 2020 and 2021 and finished his prep career with 153 tackles (40 for loss), 25 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two pass breakups, two blocked kicks, an interception and two touchdowns.