3 questions about the Clemson Football defensive ends this spring
By John Chancey
Clemson Football made a change at the helm of their defensive ends. Lemanski Hall has moved on and Dabo Swinney has brought in Chris Rumph for his second stint on the Clemson staff. Rumph will have some decisions to make before the 2024 season begins. Here are the three biggest questions I have about the defensive ends group.
Is TJ Parker ready to shoulder the burden as the top guy?
It was known that TJ Parker was a talented prospect but sometimes players need time to acclimate. I did my best to keep expectations in check. After all, the Tigers had two experienced guys to start and Parker wasn’t needed right away.
Parker didn’t need long. By the Florida State game, he was making plays for the Tiger defense. Soon Clemson had a triumvirate at defensive end, at least when all of them were healthy.
Both of those super seniors have exhausted eligibility, so Parker is the man at the position now. Sophomore slumps are a real thing because sometimes it's easier to impress when there are no expectations or videos of you for teams to study.
There will be expectations for Parker this season. We will see if he is ready to shoulder the burden.
Next: Who will step up opposite Parker?