Will Heldt and Jaheim Lawson dominate the edges
Defensive ends Will Heldt and Jaheim Lawson are two of the most critical pieces to a Clemson turnaround in 2026. Their ability to dominate the edges on the line of scrimmage will have a huge impact on every game played this season.
In 2025, Heldt led the team in both tackles for loss with 15.5, and sacks with 7.5 total. Lawson was third in both categories with 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. When talking about TJ Parker’s drop in production last season, these two are typically pointed to as the main reasons why. Heldt and Lawson’s rise in production took away from Parker’s.
At many points last season, Lawson showed more consistency than Parker. His jump should not have been a surprise though, as Swinney spent the 2025 offseason essentially calling Lawson a starter. This season, Lawson will truly be a starter and Heldt has proven himself to be one of the best edge players in the ACC. Continuing their rise in 2026 and being dominant on the defensive front will make this Clemson team feel like it's back on the right trajectory.
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