When it comes to one of Clemson’s top defensive end targets, the writing was on the wall.

Five-star EDGE DJ Jacobs (Blessed Trinity, GA) had been trending away from the Tigers for quite some time, with Miami, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon as schools emerging as the contenders.

Late on Monday, Jacobs made it official, announcing a commitment to the Buckeyes.

Jacobs racked up 102 tackles as a junior, with 24 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and two forced fumbles. He is currently ranked as the top player in the 2027 class regardless of position, per 247Sports. In other words, the kind of player capable of making an immediate impact.

The 6-foot-6 pass rusher is a difference-maker. Not only did the Tigers use to be in the mix for the kind of player Jacobs is consistently, but the program also landed its fair share of those guys. Those days seem to be a distant memory.

With elite-level defensive ends commanding high-dollar NIL deals, Clemson has struggled to reel in that caliber of player. And Jacobs is no exception, with rumors of seven-figure offers making the rounds.

It’s not like defensive end isn’t a position of great need. The Tigers lost their highest-rated defensive end commits in each of the past two recruiting cycles. In 2025, the program actually lost both of its highest-rated ends to decommitments.

With T.J. Parker now headed off to the NFL, and Clemson only taking two developmental ends in the 2026 class, the Tigers are going to have to address the current need in the portal. At some point, hitting on some of the better high school ends is a must, especially for a head coach like Dabo Swinney, who prides himself on running a developmental program.

Clemson only has offers out to three other players at the position in the 2027 class and the Tigers don’t have much momentum with any of those three.

Photo courtesy of Bart Boatwright