CLEMSON — Jaden Wuerth remains fully locked in with Clemson.

The three-star in-state defensive tackle, out of Dutch Fork, committed to the Tigers back in the spring, believing the program was on the right track, despite the down season in 2025.

Wuerth was pretty confident the defense would show some improvement, while believing the offense could be a work in progress for this season.

“I thought they would be better on defense. I knew the secondary was going to be good because they got all those guys in the portal,” Wuerth told The Clemson Insider. “Just watching them practice in the spring, they were always doing well, so I knew the secondary was going to be good and I knew they would be pretty solid defensively.

“On the offensive side, I knew the offense would struggle a little bit. Your preseason starter (at quarterback) and backup have very little experience, one is a true freshman. The whole line is new. So, I knew it was going to be hard early, especially with a new OC too. Coming in, I thought it was a year to build everyone up and see how things play out. I thought they would be pretty solid, and recently they have been improving each game, so we will see how it goes.”

What he wasn’t expecting was the blowout loss to LSU to start the season. It wasn’t that Clemson lost. What was surprising was how they lost.

“I was just thinking in my head — a young team, a lot of people got their first start that night, so they just had very little experience,” Wuerth said. “But in my head I was thinking we should have put up a little better fight than we did.”

However, for Wuerth, it was just one game. He has not, and isn’t planning to waver when it comes to the strength of his commitment.

“You can’t just look at one game. It’s just not smart,” he said. “I am fully locked in. No matter what. That was the decision the day I committed.”

The strong culture in place at Clemson is one reason Wuerth remains fully committed, and with him living in the Columbia area, proximity also plays a part.

“Obviously, I am somewhat close. My family and everyone can come and watch me play,” Wuerth said. “I feel like it is the right environment for me. It is not in a big city. I would rather be more reserved. I feel like the family aspect and the culture there, I will be able to come in and fit in right away. Get along with everyone. And also have a chance to compete, day in and day out.”

And that culture is why Wuerth believes the Tigers were able to bounce back from that season-opening loss to win three straight.

“I feel like if they did not have that culture they have — a lot of teams, they would have crumbled,” Wuerth said. “It is just like a different vibe.”

Wuerth was on hand for the comeback win over North Carolina and will be back on Saturday when the Tigers host No. 4 Miami. In fact, he plans to be at the rest of the home games this season, schedule permitting.

The 6-foot-3, 275-pounder has gotten off to an extremely strong start to his senior season, totaling 10.5 sacks and one forced fumble through the first four games. Wuerth was just named to the Shrine Bowl roster earlier this week.

After the Shrine Bowl, he plans to enroll early at Clemson and see if he can find his way onto the field during his freshman campaign.

“My mindset is obviously to try to come in and play early,” Wuerth said. “I am a competitor. I am going to come in and do what I got to do to try and get on the field.”