There’s no question that the Clemson defense needs to improve in 2025 if the Tigers want to compete for the National Championship.
That’s why the news Tiger fans got on Friday was so welcomed.
Star defensive end T.J. Parker announced on X that he intends to return to Clemson next fall. In a post featuring a .GIF of WWE professional wrestler Roman Reigns saying “The Big Dog is Bback” Parker gave Clemson’s offseason a shot in the arm.
In 2024, as a sophomore, the Alabama native was the Tigers’ most disruptive defensive force. He made 64 tackles with 19.5 for loss. What’s more, he led the team with 11.0 sacks while forcing a program-record six fumbles.
Parker’s tackles for loss total and sack total were both the most by a Clemson Tiger since Clelin Ferrell’s 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 2018. Starting every game in the 2024 season, he earned second-team All-ACC recognition.
In 2023, Parker was one of the best freshmen in the nation with 32 tackles and 5.5 sacks. That validated his rating as a four-star recruit and the No. 6 defensive lineman in the class of 2023.
As a team, Clemson was strong in 2024 in regard to getting after opposing quarterbacks. Thanks in large part to Parker’s heroics, the Tigers ranked 26th nationally in sacks per game at 2.6.
The next closest player on the roster to Parker in terms of sacks was true freshman inside linebacker Sammy Brown who had 5.0. Meanwhile, the next closest defensive lineman or edge rusher in sacks was Barrett Carter who had 3.0 showing just how important Parker was to the defense this year.
In fact, Parker was responsible for 31.4% of Clemson’s 35 total sacks in 2024. That makes him one of the program’s most important returnees in 2025.
Of course, the Tigers must get better against the run, a fact that was underscored in the College Football Playoff loss to Texas. But defending the pass is always going to be of critical importance as well in the modern era of the game and by having Parker in the mix for another season, the Tigers should be able to put ample pressure on opposing signal callers again next fall as they look to return to the top of the college football mountain.
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