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USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson defensive end Will Heldt named a transfer who 'could swing' the Tigers' CFP hopes
Clemson offensive line ranked Top 10 heading into 2025 by two ESPN analysts CBS Sports recently identified transfer portal additions who could have the biggest impact on the 2025 College Football Playoff race, and one of Clemson's newest faces made the cut. Junior defensive end Will Heldt, a transfer from Purdue, was named the Tigers' most important portal pickup in the outlet's post-spring Top 25 feature. CBS Sports' Chris Hummer singled out Heldt as a player who 'could swing College Football Playoff hopes,' pointing to both his production and timing. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound edge rusher arrives at Clemson after two strong seasons in the Big Ten, and more importantly, he represents a rare step into the transfer portal by Dabo Swinney. 'Clemson finished last season ranked 59th in pressure rate, well below where you expect the Tigers to sit after finishing fourth, 22nd, 11th and 15th in that category across the last four seasons,' Hummer wrote. 'Heldt helps address that shortcoming. He posted 10 TFLs and five sacks for Purdue last season and should form one of the best edge rusher duos in the country with T.J. Parker. Plus, Heldt's presence itself is a bit of a swing factor in the playoff race. He's the first significant transfer take of Dabo Swinney's career.' Heldt played in all 24 games for Purdue from 2023 to 2024, compiling 68 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, and a fumble recovery. Last fall, he started all 12 games and was second on the team in both sacks and tackles for loss while ranking fourth in total tackles. Two of his best games came in back-to-back weeks against ranked opponents, where he tallied 2.5 sacks and returned a fumble 16 yards for a touchdown. Originally from Carmel, Indiana, Heldt was ranked No. 28 overall by ESPN among the top 100 transfer players this offseason. He was also recently featured in a CBS Sports breakdown of players 'most likely to make an immediate impact on the ACC' in 2025. With two years of eligibility remaining, Heldt not only fills a critical need for Clemson up front, but also marks a philosophical shift for Swinney — who had long resisted the transfer portal before adding Heldt. His arrival is expected to play a significant role in the Tigers' push back into the national spotlight. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson offensive line ranked Top 10 heading into 2025 by two ESPN analysts
Former Clemson running back Marquise Henderson officially enters the transfer portal Clemson football's offensive line continues to earn national recognition ahead of the 2025 season. On a recent episode of his Always College Football show, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, joined by fellow analyst Cole Cubelic, ranked the top 10 offensive lines in the country — and Clemson checked in at No. 9 on their list. With four starters returning, the Tigers are expected to take another step forward under offensive line coach Matt Luke, who has quickly made a strong impact since joining Dabo Swinney's staff. Clemson loses veteran Marcus Tate at left guard, but the rest of the unit remains intact. Blake Miller and Tristan Leigh return as the bookend tackles, Ryan Linthicum anchors the middle at center, and sixth-year lineman Walker Parks provides versatility and leadership along the interior. Replacing Tate likely won't be a major issue, with sophomore Harris Sewell ready to step in. Sewell has already logged over 1,000 snaps in his first two seasons and has shown steady improvement throughout his time in the program. 'I could probably start and finish this reasoning with the coach of the offensive line, Matt Luke,' McElroy said. 'Usually, any group that he's in charge of, you feel pretty good about. They bring back four out of five starters. I'm not concerned at all about the positions that return.' Cubelic, a former Auburn offensive lineman, echoed that sentiment and credited Luke with instilling a tougher edge in Clemson's front. 'Matt Luke has brought a little bit more of that glass-eater mentality,' he said. 'It was an amazing hire by Dabo. You're plugging in a guy like Harris Sewell, who's already played a ton, and I think Tristan Leigh can be one of the better tackles in the ACC.' Both analysts agreed that if Clemson's offensive line can live up to expectations, the rest of the offense could benefit in a big way. Cubelic noted that in recent years, the Tigers' line hasn't always stood out even when the offense has thrived, but this year could be different with so much continuity and experience up front. Pro Football Focus also recently ranked Clemson among the top 10 offensive lines heading into the season, placing the Tigers at No. 10. McElroy concluded, 'I think it's got a chance to be one of their better groups they've had. Just all things considered, I really believe that.' The full top-10 list from McElroy and Cubelic featured Notre Dame at No. 1, followed by Texas A&M, Florida, Alabama, Utah, Miami, Penn State, Auburn, Clemson, and Oregon. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Social media reacts to Clemson landing 4-star defensive end Dre Quinn over Texas
Clemson football has landed a major addition to its 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of four-star defensive end Dre Quinn. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound pass rusher out of Buford (Ga.) announced his decision on Thursday, choosing the Tigers over Texas. Notre Dame and Georgia had also been contenders earlier in the process, but Quinn trimmed his list to Clemson and Texas earlier this week and canceled a scheduled visit to South Bend. Quinn first visited Clemson last November for the Louisville game and received an offer shortly afterward. He returned in March for the program's Elite Retreat and made his official visit to Clemson during the first weekend of June. Texas and Georgia also hosted him for officials, but Dabo Swinney and his staff were able to close the deal. Rated the No. 105 overall prospect in the country by Rivals, Quinn is also ranked the No. 13 edge rusher nationally and the No. 15 player in Georgia. He's now the second edge rusher to commit to Clemson in the 2026 cycle, joining JR Hardrick. The Tigers now have 19 verbal pledges in a class currently ranked among the top five nationally by Rivals. Here's how social media reacted to Dre Quinn committing to Clemson: Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Elite 5-star and nation's No. 1 college basketball recruit announces Clemson offer
Elite 5-star and nation's No. 1 college basketball recruit announces Clemson offer The No. 1-ranked men's college basketball recruit in the class of 2027 announced an offer from coach Brad Brownell and Clemson Tigers this week. Small forward and consensus five-star recruit Baba Oladotun (James Hubert Blake High School, Silver Springs, Md.) announced an offer from Clemson in a post to social media this week. Listed as 6-foot-9, 175 pounds, Oladotun is ranked as the nation's No. 1 overall recruit by both ESPN and 247Sports, the latter of which grades him with a 98 overall player rating and a composite recruit ranking of 0.9994. On3 lists Oladotun as the No. 2 overall player in the 2027 class behind 6-foot-9 North Carolina prep forward C.J. Rosser. Clemson was one of several schools that Oladotun announced offers from this week. Others include fellow rising college basketball programs Auburn, Texas, Texas A&M, plus the Miami Hurricanes. This past weekend marked the start of when schools could formally begin making contact with recruits in the 2027 cycle. Oladotun previously announced offers from blue-blood programs like Kentucky, UCLA and Michigan within the last year. On3's latest prediction has Oladotun committing to UCLA and coach Mick Cronin. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson leads the pack with five first-round picks in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Clemson leads the pack with five first-round picks in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft Clemson football's roster is loaded with future NFL talent, and one recent mock draft reflects just how high the national expectations are for several Tigers. Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports released an early 2026 NFL mock draft and included five Clemson players in the first round — three of them landing in the top 10. Defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods led the way, with Parker projected to go No. 3 overall to the New York Jets and Woods slotted at No. 5 to the Tennessee Titans. Wilson praised Parker's blend of athleticism and motor, comparing his frame to James Pearce Jr. 'He wins with both speed and power, is stout at the point vs. offensive tackles and is a high-motor, high-end athlete,' Wilson wrote. As for Woods, Wilson cited his strength and technique in the trenches. 'Woods plays with leverage, power and a low center of gravity,' he wrote. 'He can toss offensive linemen off-balance and shed blocks quickly to fill gaps.' Wide receiver Antonio Williams was the next Clemson standout off the board, going No. 10 overall to the Miami Dolphins. Wilson acknowledged Williams' occasional drops but praised his ability to separate and contribute across multiple roles. 'He consistently wins off the line vs. physical corners, can get open at all three levels and has legit separation ability,' he wrote. Cornerback Avieon Terrell also made Wilson's first-round cut, going No. 20 to the Minnesota Vikings. 'Avieon plays bigger than his listed size,' Wilson noted, referencing his coverage against Stanford's Elic Ayomanor. 'He has good ball skills and plays run support like a strong safety.' Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik rounded out the group at No. 27 overall to the Los Angeles Rams. 'He's not the biggest QB, but he has a big arm and is one of the best deep-ball passers in this class,' Wilson wrote. 'If he continues to progress, he'll be a first-rounder next April.' The 2026 NFL Draft is still nearly a year away, but if this projection is any indication, Clemson could be one of the most heavily represented programs in the first round. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
