Jeff Bryant was a wrecking-ball on the 1981 national championship team with 19 tackles for loss and might have been overlooked on a defense filled with stars. He established the tone for the best Clemson defensive ends of the modern era.

Trevor Pryce played only one season with the program (and they say Clemson doesn’t take transfers!), but he made a big impact, which led to a pro career. 

And then the position really became a focus with the play of Gaines Adams, who turned things over to Da’Quan Bowers, who turned things over to Vic Beasley, who turned things over to Shaq Lawson.

The most recent championships showcased a dominant defensive line, which featured Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant. And in their wake, Myles Murphy was a first-round draft pick even without gaudy sack totals.

Statistics: Who are the best-ever Clemson defensive ends?

• Vic Beasley (2011-14) – First-team all-american, first-round draft pick, Career Sacks Leader (33), 52.5 tackles for loss (TFL)
• Clelin Ferrell (2016-18) – First-team all-american, first-round draft pick, 27 sacks
• Austin Bryant (2015-18) – First-team all-american, 153 tackles, 35 TFL, 20.0 sacks, 32 QB pressures
• Da’Quan Bowers (2008-10) – First-team all-american, 179 tackles, 47 QB pressures, six PBU, Record nine straight games involved in a sack, 19.5 sacks for career
• Gaines Adams (2003-06) – First-team all-american, first-round draft pick, 28 sacks, 168 tackles, 44.5 TFL
• Jeff Bryant (1978-81) – First-round draft pick, 19 TFL for 1981 title team
• Shaq Lawson (2013-15) – First-team all-american, first-round draft pick, 167 tackles, 46.5 TFL, 20 sacks, 29 QB pressures
• Trevor Pryce (1996) – First-round draft pick, 20 TFL, 7.5 sacks in lone season at Clemson
• Myles Murphy (2019-21) – First-round draft pick, 139 tackles, 37 TFL, 17.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, 6 PBU

Who are your favorites? Tell us in the comments at YouTube.com/ClemsonKickoff, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

2025 Clemson Football Season Previews with Best-All-Time Tigers by Position

Each podcast episode covers both the season preview and the best all-time Clemson Tigers at each position, while each blogs is shorter and only covers either the best ever or the 2025 preview. Here are all the links you could need!

Clemson Defensive Tackles

Podcast, https://youtu.be/G7BSHStxmBA 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-defensive-tackles-2025-season-preview

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/peter-woods-demonte-capehart-power-clemsons-defensive-tackles-in-2025-quick-look

Clemson Defensive Ends

Podcast, https://youtu.be/kO_I18rNt_I

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-defensive-ends-daquan-bowers-vic-beasley-shone-in-death-valley-plus-t.j.-parker-leads-2025-tigers-des-season-preview

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/t.j.-parker-forges-clemson-defensive-ends-path-ahead-quick-look

Clemson Linebackers

Podcast, https://youtu.be/c8S1Ib1IFQk

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time:  https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/levon-kirkland-jeff-davis-best-ever-clemson-linebackers-plus-tigers-2025-lbs-preview-includes-sammy-brown

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/sammy-brown-wade-woodaz-pace-clemson-linebackers-in-2025-quick-look

Clemson Safeties 

Podcast, https://youtu.be/3qHwV1cCt84   

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-ever-clemson-safeties-brian-dawkins-set-standard-chased-by-others-including-khalil-barnes-in-2025  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/khalil-barnes-keys-clemsons-safeties-in-2025-quick-look   

Clemson Cornerbacks

Podcast: https://youtu.be/gaSVwe_ueZM 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-cornerbacks-and-tigers-2025-season-preview    

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/avieon-terrell-ashton-hampton-lead-clemson-cornerbacks-in-2025  

Clemson Wide Receivers

Podcast, https://youtu.be/s0mQ70__Bq4  

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-wide-receivers-2025-preview-tigers-wr-best-all-timer  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-wide-receiver-room-boasts-bryant-wesco-antonio-williams-t.j.-moore-and-more-in-2025-quick-look  

Clemson Tight Ends

Podcast, https://youtu.be/5GS6EKIMhag 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-tight-ends-all-time-bennie-cunningham-dwayne-allen-tigers-2025-te-preview 

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/olsen-patt-henry-steers-clemsons-tight-ends-in-2025-quick-look  

Clemson Offensive Line

Podcast, https://youtu.be/pqoXa9D_LZA   

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-ever-clemson-offensive-linemen-john-simpson-joe-bostic-plus-tigers-2025-season-preview  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview,  https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/blake-miller-tristan-leigh-bookend-clemson-offensive-line-in-2025

Clemson Running Backs

Podcast, https://youtu.be/GTkz93TxyGI 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-running-backs-travis-etienne-will-shipley-followed-footsteps-of-c.j.-spiller-terry-allen-many-more 

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/adam-randall-sparks-clemson-running-backs-in-2025-quick-look  

Clemson Quarterbacks

Podcast, https://youtu.be/d2fX1Gs1oVg  

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-quarterbacks-all-time-and-tigers-2025-qbs-preview  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-quarterback-cade-klubnik-critical-to-tigers-2025-quick-look