Will Heldt is off to a monster start coming off the edge for Clemson. Only three games into the 2026 campaign, and he already has four sacks! Even more impressive, he is coming off his second-two sack game in a row, bringing him to four on the season. Not only did this allow him to be the ACC's Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week, but he just did something that had not happened since 2022.
Heldt is the first Clemson player to get two or more sacks in a game in back-to-back weeks since Jeremiah Trotter Jr. did it versus South Carolina and North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game. Clearly, Heldt has taken it upon himself to be the force behind Clemson's turnaround of late. After giving up 51 points versus LSU, Clemson has allowed 27 points combined over the last two weeks.
How Heldt has responded since the LSU loss aligns perfectly with Clemson's defensive resurgence. Having Tom Allen back for a second season as the defensive coordinator is starting to pay out in dividends for the Tigers. Yes, the LSU road loss was especially painful, but Clemson looks like a tough team to beat at home because of that defense. This team is starting to find out that it is full of grit.
Defensive end Will Heldt recorded 2.0 sacks for a second straight game.
— ClemsonSportsNews (@ClemSportNews) September 20, 2026
Heldt has now recorded 2.0 sacks in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
Heldt became the first #Clemson player to reach 2.0 sacks in consecutive games since Jeremiah Trotter Jr. against South… pic.twitter.com/Bky07R7oyo
Will Heldt can do something, but not everything for this Clemson defense
Entering this season, Heldt was one of a few Clemson stars with a potential first-round draft grade. While linebacker Sammy Brown and cornerback Ashton Hampton may come off the board before him, Heldt is playing with a ferocious passion out on the edge. His sacks and pressures always seem to come at opportune times. It has been to Clemson's benefit, as the Tigers are making their charge.
Admittedly, Clemson may not have the most talented team top to bottom this season. However, the Tigers do have a handful of stars that stand out. The trio of Brown, Hampton, and Heldt are carrying their weight defensively for Allen. Clearly, he can lean on them at any given time. While Clemson is getting better by the week in pass defense, they do need to get it together more stopping the run.
Given that Heldt is more of a pure edge rusher than anything, it is not really in his nature to be the driving force for the Tigers there. That would have to be Vic Burley at defensive tackle, who is just now working his way back into the rotation after missing the first two games of the season. With Brown, Hampton, and Heldt all making plays for the Tigers, look for Burley to follow suit here soon.
While it is great and all that Heldt just did something that had not been done at Clemson since Trotter starred in Death Valley, this team still has a long way to go. That 2022 team won the ACC with an 11-2 record before falling to Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. This year's Clemson team could conceivably match, or even exceed, that record total. However, this group still has a long way to go to be great.
Heldt's ascension into stardom has been amazing to watch, but it takes a whole team to win games.
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