The unseasonably pleasant weather has only intensified the readiness of the entire Clemson fan base. The breeze of a fall day and the gradually shortening evenings have college football fans everywhere frothing at the mouth for games to kick off this Saturday. One group Clemson fans especially hope to see “frothing at the mouth” is […]
The unseasonably pleasant weather has only intensified the readiness of the entire Clemson fan base. The breeze of a fall day and the gradually shortening evenings have college football fans everywhere frothing at the mouth for games to kick off this Saturday. One group Clemson fans especially hope to see “frothing at the mouth” is the 2025 defensive ends for the Clemson Tigers.
Questions are certainly running rampant this offseason. The last three times we’ve seen this group, they were part of less-than-stellar defensive performances. On each occasion, the defensive ends played a crucial role in Clemson’s inability to stop the run.
But fret not—the energy brought in by new defensive coordinator Tom Allen has spread throughout the entire group. Make no mistake: if Clemson is going to take the next step in 2025, the defensive ends will have played a major role in that process.
When talking about the unit, one must start with TJ Parker.
In short: he’s a freak.
But with context, you see that even on Clemson’s much-maligned 2024 defense, Parker stood out. He recorded 11 sacks, 35 solo tackles, and 20 tackles for loss. By comparison, Kyle Kennard—arguably the biggest key to a resurgent South Carolina defense last season—led the Gamecocks with 11.5 sacks, 20 solo tackles, and 16 tackles for loss. Many viewed South Carolina’s defense as a roaring success last year.
Parker’s growth, paired with a new voice in the booth for Clemson, will be crucial to how the season finishes. However, there are other names worth mentioning—players who could have an even bigger impact.
Gone are the days of shifting Peter Woods out to defensive end. Enter Will Heldt. The 6-foot-6 junior made headlines as one of a small group of transfers Dabo Swinney pursued in the postseason. Heldt, formerly of Purdue, tallied five sacks (second on the team) and 37 solo tackles (third on the team) and was one of the more consistent contributors for the Boilermakers last year. Many wondered whether the transition to Clemson would be too big of a leap for someone coming from Purdue, but early indications from fall camp suggest he fits Clemson like a glove. He’s a hard worker who came to Clemson to get better. We’re just about 24 hours from finding out how much he has.
Jaheim Lawson is another name to keep an eye on this fall. Once an undersized line prospect—one whose commitment led some in the fanbase to cry nepotism (he’s the younger brother of Clemson great Shaq Lawson)—he’s since bulked up to 260 pounds and looks like a real contributor in the rotation. While he’s primarily been used in pass-rush situations in the past, an extra step in his development would be a welcome sight for those who were skeptical just a couple of years ago.
Other names and storylines make this unit even more intriguing. Darien Mayo, for instance, is a physical specimen, but injuries have derailed his early progress. Will the flashes of potential shown in spring and fall camp finally materialize in 2025? Can this be the year we see a breakout from Cade Denhoff or Zaire Patterson—both of whom are entering their final year? And then there’s the intriguing case of Marcus Dixon, a tight end who made the move to defensive end during the offseason. How will his transition play out this fall?
It takes a lot to build a championship team, but one key factor that could set Clemson up to thrive in 2025 is strong defensive end play—not just from the first two or three guys off the bench, but as a complete, deep, and unified unit. The new voices surrounding that group could be just what’s needed to unlock their potential.
Time will tell.
Go Tigers.
Category: General Sports
