When TJ Parker was questioned during his draft process about his drop in production from 2024 to 2025, he mentioned it was due to the additional talent at his position.
The acquisition of Will Heldt proved to be a great transfer portal addition for Dabo Swinney’s team. Jahiem Lawson showed exponential growth in his four years in the program. Their performances in 2025 set them up to take over larger roles for this upcoming season.
Lawson and Heldt have already shown they can be big time playmakers for the Clemson defense. This season, they will have to be the anchors for the defensive line. How well each of them play and lead the defensive front will be key to Clemson’s 2026 success.
Will Heldt shows the positives of the transfer portal
In the offseason leading into the 2025 season, Swinney finally dipped his toes into the transfer portal. The biggest grab in his transfer class of three was Heldt.
The defensive end came off a very impressive sophomore season at Purdue, before making the move to Clemson for his junior year. It worked out well for him as he recorded 48 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks on his way to being named Third-Team All-ACC.
Heldt not only led the Tigers in total tackles for loss and sacks, but he also ranked inside the top eight in the conference in both categories. He was a force off the edge for Tom Allen’s defense, and his return is a huge deal for Clemson. Heldt has proven he has the talent to play at the pro level, and he’s given himself one more chance to show the scouts how ready he is.
The rise of Jahiem Lawson
Playing opposite of Heldt this season will be the fifth year senior, Lawson. The younger brother of Buffalo Bills defensive end and Clemson legend, Shaq Lawson, had a breakout 2025 season. Swinney knew it would be a big year for the younger Lawson.
He showed enough confidence in him last offseason to call him a “one” even though Lawson was still in more of a rotational role. Although, by the end of the season an argument could be made that Lawson was a more consistent player than Parker.
Lawson finished his redshirt junior season with 24 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He had the fourth most tackles for loss and third most sacks on the Tigers’ defense. Now, he will be an unquestioned starter in 2026 and leaned upon even more to win games for Clemson.
Heldt and Lawson’s importance
Many in the college football space believe programs can only build using one of two routes. Either by recruiting high school talent and developing them into great college football players, or acquiring high level talent out of the transfer portal to plug and play. The truth is, the best teams find the right balance between both.
Even a program like Indiana, the reigning national champions, found the right balance. On paper there were a ton of transfers brought in over the last two years. However, many of those players actually started with Curt Cignetti at James Madison. Clemson right now is trying to find the correct balance for itself.
Heldt and Lawson are the best representation of that mix. Heldt was taken out of the portal last season to be an immediate starter for the Tigers’ defense, and it paid off. He was also brought in to push someone like Lawson to reach the next steps in his development. It worked out well.
The best year of Lawson’s college career directly coincided with Heldt’s arrival. Lawson has been a player that had to wait his turn, but took the time to keep getting better every year. It’s led to this 2026 season, in which he is expected to be even better than he was last year.
Having two high-level players on the edges of the defensive front is a scary thing for offenses to prepare for. Both players play well against the run, making it tough for teams to stretch the field on the ground. They are also very effective pass rushers, which puts pressure on quarterbacks in the passing game to either get the ball out quick or be very good at extending plays with their legs.
Having one talented edge rusher makes a defense tough to go against. To have two of them that are also productive makes any opposing offensive coordinator's job more difficult. The proof can be found within the conference. Miami’s recent run to the national championship game had much to do with how hard it was for teams to stop both Rueben Bain Jr, and Akheem Mesidor.
Heldt and Lawson have the potential to reach that level of play. Doing so would help Clemson exceed its expectations this season.
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