Going into the 2025 campaign, Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker was routinely projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but his stock took a hit during the season as his sack production dropped from 11 in 2024 to five in 2025.
However, Parker has been a big-time standout performer at the Senior Bowl this week while dominating during the practices in Mobile, Ala. It’s widely believed that he’s boosted his stock and put himself squarely back in the first-round conversation ahead of this spring’s draft, which is set to take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Parker joined NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo for an interview from the Senior Bowl and discussed the question he’s been asked by NFL teams about his dip in production from his sophomore 2024 season to his junior 2025 campaign – saying it’s because of the better talent that was around him this past season.
“I think the first question was what happened to my production from my sophomore to junior year, and it’s simple,” Parker said. “My junior year, I was surrounded by a lot greater talent. A lot of those guys made plays, including in my defensive end room. We added Will Heldt, and guys like Jahiem Lawson, Cade Denhoff really improved. And those plays that they didn’t make last year [the 2024 season], they made this year [the 2025 season].
“So, with the focus being on me a lot gameplan-wise coming into this year, it allowed them to make plays, and I’m happy for those guys. The opportunities I did get, I made them, and as the season went on, I continued to play better.”
In today’s age of college football, where it’s common to see a lot of players hop in the transfer portal and move around to different schools, Parker did not do that but instead stayed at Clemson all three years of his college career.
Parker talked about why he didn’t transfer and says his loyalty lied with Clemson, and he had faith in head coach Dabo Swinney, along with defensive ends coach Chris Rumph, to help make him better both on and off the field.
“I’m loyal to Clemson,” Parker said. “Clemson, they took an opportunity on me coming out of high school, and I believed in Coach Swinney and the development I had with Coach Rumph. I felt like they could push me on and off the field to be a better man and a better player, and I didn’t want to leave.
“My parents always instilled in me, like, if you have something good going on and you ask for a situation, why leave it? Whether that’s to chase what somebody else wants, or money, that’s just not what I’m interested in. I’m interested in my development.”
Parker credited Swinney for pushing him to achieve the goals he set out to accomplish during his Clemson career.
“Early on in high school, he asked me what I want to get out of college, because nowadays, colleges, they’re going to get everything out of you,” Parker said. “He asked me what I wanted to get out of college, and I told him every goal I wanted. And he said, ‘Before you leave, you’re going to do that.’ He pushed me, regardless of what it was, to do that, and I exceeded every goal.”
A 2023 freshman All-American and 2024 All-ACC selection, Parker piled up 144 tackles (41.5 for loss), 21.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and five pass breakups over 39 games (29 starts) in his Clemson career from 2023-25. He leaves Tigertown ranked 10th in career sacks and tied for fourth in career fumble recoveries, and he set the Clemson record for forced fumbles in a single season with six in 2024.
In 2025, the 6-foot-3, 260-pounder was credited with 39 tackles (9.5 for loss), five sacks, two pass breakups and a team-high three fumble recoveries across 12 games (all starts). He finished the regular season with a flourish, as he was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after collecting four tackles (3.0 for loss), three sacks and a fumble recovery in the rivalry finale at South Carolina.
The Senior Bowl, a national showcase for top NFL prospects, is set to take place on Saturday at the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. It will kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET and be televised on NFL Network.
Parker spoke about his Senior Bowl experience and conversations with NFL teams/personnel.
“It’s been amazing just being able to talk to teams in general and just hear out the questions they want to ask me, and me being able to give concise answers,” Parker said. “I think the best thing about me was just telling them who I am – as a person, as a player and what they’re going to get out of me. It’s just been exciting to reiterate my story and get going, put my foot in the door.”