When he came to Clemson four years ago, defensive end Jahiem Lawson had to spend some time in what Dabo Swinney calls the “crockpot,” as part of the long-term player development process for young players with extra weight room work, physical maturation and learning, before he was ready to contribute to the Tigers’ defensive line.
After arriving at Clemson weighing around 210 pounds, the 6-foot-2 Lawson is now listed at 250 pounds. He redshirted as a first-year player and has spent multiple seasons working behind veterans in a rotational role rather than being rushed onto the field prematurely.
But last season, prior to suffering a season-ending ankle injury late in the year, Lawson enjoyed a breakout campaign. The Central, S.C., native emerged as a key edge rusher, and despite missing the final two games, he finished fourth on the team with 3.5 sacks, even though he didn’t start any game. He also racked up 6.5 tackles for loss, 24 total tackles and three pass breakups in 307 defensive snaps.
With added weight since he arrived on campus, a passion for Clemson and playing the game, and his relentless motor, Lawson’s energy provided a much-needed spark at times last year. Now, he has a chance to step into an even more prominent role in 2026 opposite fellow edge rusher Will Heldt, and defensive coordinator Tom Allen is expecting big things from Lawson this year.
“Coach [Swinney] talks about being put in the ‘crockpot,’ you know. And I think that’s a great way to say it,” Allen said at Clemson’s media outing on July 14. “Because he’s come here, he wasn’t very big out of high school. He just continues to get bigger, stronger and tougher – and man, super high expectations for him. I love what he brings to this team.
“Last year, we got into the season, and I was just like, man, we gotta play this guy more. Just because when he was out there, he was productive and he was making plays. Yeah, he’s not as big as other guys, but it doesn’t matter. So, there’s a passion and a toughness, and that has to be his strength. His effort, how hard he plays and the passion with which he does everything, has to be an elite level for a guy his size to be effective, and that’s who he is.”
If Lawson can continue to develop and improve, and stay consistent with increased reps, the tandem of Lawson and Heldt could be a big problem for opposing offenses and a whole lot to handle.
“I’m excited for him,” Allen said of Lawson. “I’m excited that he has a chance to come back in Year 2 in this defense, and to go and take his game to another level, and I expect him to do that. We need him to do that. Obviously Will is coming back.”
“But now it’s like, OK, now consistently stopping the run, being effective against the pass, and being able to disrupt and all those kind of things, and be an every-down guy and be able to do that over and over and over again,” Allen added.
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.
The brother of former Clemson All-American defensive end Shaq Lawson, Jahiem enters the upcoming season credited with 55 tackles (11.0 for loss), 4.5 sacks, six pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 712 career defensive snaps over 30 games (four starts).
Allen expects him to be a critical part of the Clemson defense this season.
“Jahiem, to me, is a guy who just epitomizes coming to Clemson, being a good fit for who we are, and just buying into the process – being patient in some ways, but also just keep working, and when you get your opportunities, you take advantage of it. This is what he’s done,” Allen said. “I thought last year he was probably our most natural pass rusher that we had. So, that’s a special quality that everybody wants.”
–Ashby Mixon contributed to this story
