CLEMSON — One way or another, Will Heldy is a guy many Clemson fans will never forget.

Back in December, Heldt became the first-ever defender to join the Tigers via the transfer portal. While Dabo Swinney had taken a small number of backup quarterbacks out of the portal in the past, this offseason was the first time he felt the need to add impact players to his roster out of the portal.

Heldt was one of three transfers Swinney signed, joining WR Tristan Smith and LB Jeremiah Alexander. While all three are expected to contribute, Heldt is the only one expected to start when the season kicks off against LSU on August 30. And he fills an immediate need at the end spot opposite TJ Parker.

“I expect Will just to come in and be who he is,” defensive ends coach Chris Rumph said during Clemson’s annual media outing from the Allen J. Reeves Complex on Tuesday. “His leadership has been unbelievable. I think what he has done for the room, not only as a football player, but also how he lives his life off the field… how he trains, how he takes care of his body, I just think that is something those guys can learn from.”

Upon his arrival on campus, it didn’t take Heldt long to make an impression. Not only on his teammates, but also on his coaches. His dedication to his craft has been one of the biggest things to stand out, which includes taking immaculate care of his body.

“He is different with his body. If he takes his shirt off, man…. Don’t take him to your house. If you do, tell him to keep his shirt on,” Rumph said jokingly.

Some might think that being part of the Tigers’ first “real” transfer class would come with some added pressure, but in fact, it has been quite the opposite. Heldt was welcomed with open arms, while at the same time bringing a fresh perspective to the defensive ends room.

“Now that we have brought in an older guy, and now everybody is trying to learn from him,” Rumph said. “He has some different ideas because he has been to a different place, so it has been really cool. I am expecting a lot of great things from him.”

Heldt spent his first two seasons starring at Purdue. He appeared in all 24 games for the Boliermakers the last two years, and as a sophomore he totaled 56 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and a fumble recovery that he took back 16 yards for a score.

And that is exactly the kind of production Rumph expects him to bring to the table now that he’s at Clemson.

“It has been good. It has been refreshing to have a new face, an older guy, to go along with some of the guys we already have in the room,” Rumph said. “Just his experiences. Sometimes, if you are only in one place, you just see it from one angle, but now he is bringing a different perspective. He can say, ‘hey, we did it this way, we had success here doing it this way,’ so how about trying it this way.”