Clemson signed a couple of defensive ends as part of its 2026 recruiting class, one of whom is J.R. Hardrick.
A talented edge rusher, Hardrick blossomed at Tennessee’s 1A level, earning all-region and all-state honors in each of his final three prep seasons.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney compares Hardrick (6-6, 235) to former Tiger star Andre Branch, who earned second-team All-American honors in 2011 and was a first-team All-ACC selection that year before being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round (38th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
“When I look at him, I think Andre Branch,” Swinney said of Hardrick. “That’s kind of what I think. That similar body type. I’m not saying he’s going to be a second-round pick – I’m just saying, out of high school, that’s how I look at him.”
Branch had 197 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 40 quarterback pressures and 11 pass breakups over 48 games in his career at Clemson from 2007-11. He made at least one tackle in 41 straight games and emerged as one of the top defensive ends in the nation as a senior.
As for Hardrick, he entered the early signing period having led South Pittsburg (Tenn.) to a 13-1 record and its third straight TSSAA Class 1A state title game berth as a senior this year. He was credited to that point of his senior season with 60 tackles (9.0 for loss) and 6.0 sacks.
A year earlier, Hardrick helped South Pittsburg to a 12-4 record and a title game appearance as a junior in 2024. He collected 12 sacks that year to earn all-region and all-state honors.
“Similar body type, similar athleticism,” Swinney said of Branch and Hardrick. “We’ll see if we can develop [Hardrick] into what we think he can be. But he’s a long edge guy that I think [Clemson defensive ends coach Chris Rumph] did a great job of getting in here.”
Hardrick — ranked among Tennessee’s top 25 prospects in his class by ESPN (No. 22) and Rivals (No. 23) — committed to Clemson back in June and plans to enroll next summer.
–Clemson Athletic Communications contributed to this story