Clemson Defender Draws Praise from Mel Kiper Jr.
By: Gavin Oliver November 2, 2026

After transferring to Clemson and enjoying an outstanding first season with the Tigers in 2025, Will Heldt has continued to be highly productive and disruptive during his senior 2026 campaign.

The star edge rusher garnered a shoutout in ESPN’s 2027 NFL Draft intel article following another standout performance in Week 9 of the college football season.

After accruing seven tackles (2.5 for loss) and a sack in last Saturday’s 36-24 victory at Florida State, Heldt drew praise from longtime ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

Kiper praised Heldt for his consistent production and polished pass-rush skills.

“Clemson edge rusher Will Heldt just keeps producing,” Kiper wrote. “The 6-6 260-pounder has seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss over eight games, including a sack against Florida State. He got after the quarterback at Purdue before transferring to Clemson before the 2025 season, and his polished pass-rush tools are on full display every week for the Tigers. Heldt is quick to diagnose and takes good angles to the QB. And he can play standing up or with a hand down in the dirt. He’s a Day 2 prospect at the moment.”

Though Kiper currently views Heldt as a Day 2 prospect, a recent 2027 NFL mock draft by The Athletic projected Heldt to be a Day 1 (first-round) pick in next spring’s draft. That mock draft projects him to be taken by the Chicago Bears with the No. 25 overall pick.

The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 1 in Washington, D.C.

Heldt leads Clemson in tackles for loss and sacks through eight games, while tallying 29 total tackles and two pass breakups.

After transferring to Clemson following two productive seasons at Purdue, Heldt earned third-team All-ACC honors in his first season as a Tiger in 2025, when he tallied 48 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble over 13 games. He led Clemson in both sacks and tackles for loss while finishing fourth on the team (and first on the defensive line) in tackles.

At Purdue, Heldt totaled 68 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks and a fumble recovery over his two seasons from 2023-24.

Clemson defensive end Will Heldt (13) brings down Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels (14) during the third quarter at Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday, October 31, 2026. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)