Former Clemson stars Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne are no longer together with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but another former Tiger standout is set to join Lawrence in Jacksonville.
The Atlanta Falcons are trading former Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro to the Jaguars, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Atlanta is getting defensive tackle Maason Smith in return.
After logging eight tackles for loss and a career-high five sacks during his redshirt senior season in 2023 en route to third-team All-ACC honors, Orhorhoro became the first defensive player selected by the Falcons in the 2024 NFL Draft when they took him in the second round with the 35th overall pick.
Orhorhoro played in 25 games over his two seasons with Atlanta. After posting 11 tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit over eight games during his rookie 2024 campaign, the 6-foot-4, 295-pounder tallied 25 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hits and a pass defended while playing in all 17 games for the Falcons this past season, including eight starts.
During his Clemson career from 2019-23, Orhorhoro racked up 97 tackles (25.5 for loss), 12 sacks, nine pass breakups and two fumble recoveries over 53 games (30 starts).
Orhorhoro and Lawrence were teammates at Clemson for two years from 2019-20. Now, Orhorhoro will join Lawrence on a Jaguars team that saw Etienne depart to the New Orleans Saints this offseason in free agency.