CLEMSON — Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker will not return to the Tigers in 2026.
Parker announced on Dec. 9 that he’s turning pro and will forgo his senior season. The Alabama native played three seasons for Clemson but was slated to graduate in December and participated in the program’s Senior Day ceremonies on Nov. 22.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound edge rusher has been ranked as the No. 4 player at his position in ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.’s rankings. Parker has 9.5 tackles for loss and six sacks this season, finishing with a flourish with three QB takedowns in a win at South Carolina.
Clemson now has three defensive players declaring as early entrants for the NFL draft, including cornerback Avieon Terrell and defensive tackle Peter Woods. Redshirt junior receiver Antonio Williams also intends to skip his senior season.
With Parker’s departure, the Tigers could be thin at defensive end next season. Will Heldt, who came over from Purdue last offseason, still has to make an NFL decision after racking up 15 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his his first season at Clemson.
Jahiem Lawson will return for his redshirt senior campaign, but youth and inexperience is behind him on the depth chart. Cade Denoff, the Tigers’ fourth defensive end this season, is a graduating senior. Fellow reserves Darien Mayo and Caden Story logged 43 and 33 snaps, respectively, this season.
Freshman Ari Watford, recovering from a knee injury suffered in high school, played just seven snaps in an FCS contest against Furman. Clemson added two more freshmen, JR Hardrick and Michael Foster, in the 2026 recruiting class, but both are considered developmental prospects.
Given the Tigers’ inexperience at the position, defensive end could be a spot Swinney and his staff looks shore up via the transfer portal. Clemson did lose one edge-rushing recruit, Dre Quinn, to a decommit and flip to Ohio State.