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Best-ever Clemson defensive tackles include Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins. Plus: Peter Woods leads Tigers DTs season preview for 2025

Posted by Staff Report on July 29, 2025 | 8:46 AM

Clemson has a long history of strong play by its best defensive tackles -– and there are many in those ranks -– from Archie Reese and Jim Stuckey to the Bruise Brothers (William Perry and William DeVane) to the terrific recent run of Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence and Bryan Bresee. The middle of the Clemson defensive front during the modern era has been stout and talented, and they have carried that over to the next level too.

Michael Dean Perry might not be as famous as his older brother, but he had an outstanding career at Clemson and in the NFL – and outdid big bro’s numbers for their days as Tigers. Grady Jarrett might have been undersized and under-recruited, but was a star at Clemson and has been even more outstanding in the NFL. And don’t forget Chester McGlockton and Brentson Buckner.

The anchor of the Clemson defense has long been those defensive tackles.

For his junior season in 2025, Peter Woods returns to the interior of the defensive line in hopes of someday joining that list of greats. For more about the 2025 Clemson defensive tackles room, including Demonte Capehart, Vic Burley and Amare Adams, be sure to watch the podcast above.

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson defensive tackles?

Rob Bodine (1989-91) -– First-team All-American, 48 TFL (led nation with 27 as a senior in 1991).
Bryan Bresee (2020-22) –- First-round NFL draft pick, 15 TFL, 9 sacks.
Grady Jarrett (2011-14) -– 207 tackles, 29.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 37 QB pressures, one PBU, two caused fumbles, four recovered fumbles, 1,642 snaps.Chester McGlockton (1988-91) -- First-round NFL draft pick, 20.5 sacks.
Dexter Lawrence (2016-18) –- First-team All-American, first-round NFL draft pick, 162 tackles, 20 TFL, 11 sacks, 43 QB pressures.
William Perry (1981-84) –- First-round NFL draft pick, 25 sacks, 60 tackles for loss (TFL).
Michael Dean Perry (1984-87) -– First-team All-American, career TFL leader (61), 28 sacks.
Jim Stuckey (1976-79) –- First-round NFL draft pick, 18 sacks, 314 tackles.
Carlos Watkins (2012, 14-16) -– 191 tackles, 26 TFL, 14 sacks, 1 INT, 7 PBU.
Christian Wilkins (2015-18) –- First-team All-American, first-round NFL draft pick, career Snaps by DL leader (2,441), career PBU by DL leader (16), 250 tackles, 41 TFL, 16 sacks, 56 QB pressures.

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!

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What Gordon Sellars adds for Clemson | Call to arms for Clemson baseball | Jestin Porter commits

Posted by Bill Zimmerman on April 24, 2025 | 8:06 AM

Hey, Clemson Family -- Another busy week for the Tigers across several programs. Wide receiver Gordon Sellars headlines the latest news, committing to Clemson football for the 2026 signing class. More recently, Clemson baseball knocked off Georgia as starting pitcher Talan Bell led the way and saves record holder Lucas Mahlstedt slammed the door on the Dawgs, this on the heels of another ACC series win during the weekend. Men's basketball coach Brad Brownell added what might be the final piece of his large transfer-class puzzle by bringing in Jestin Porter from Middle Tennessee. And speaking of Tennessee, Tigers softball continued its winning ways by knocking off the No. 1 Volunteers in Knoxville in their midweek matchup. We've got details and analysis on all of it, be sure to add your thoughts (and smash that like button for us too). We're glad you found us -- be sure to watch on YouTube so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

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Clemson's Cade Klubnik, energy on D beat spring portal risks | New men's hoops transfer | Baseball, softball

Posted by Staff Report on April 14, 2025 | 11:02 PM

Hey, Clemson Family -- Cade Klubnik finds himself on much stronger footing coming out of spring practice, we'll talk about how that changes the outlook for the Tigers. And at the same time, the defense is thriving on a new energy source in defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Plus: Men's basketball welcomes a new transfer in Jake Wahlin, right on the heels of Butta Johnson choosing Clemson. And the baseball and softball teams are in top gear just weeks away from the postseason, find out why Erik Bakich needs to find some help for Aidan Knaak though. We're glad you found us!

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Clemson men's basketball's big season -- and rough ending

Posted by Staff Report on March 26, 2025 | 8:55 PM

What will Clemson’s men’s basketball roster look like for the 2025-26 season? That’s the question Tigers fans are looking for answers for after the team’s ugly performance in the NCAA Tournament first round and the several departures in the first few days of the transfer portal window.
It’s hard to have a true answer because we don’t know who will be joining the program, but let’s take a look at where things stand:
First, the departures (more could follow): Chauncey Wiggins, Del Jones, Asa Thomas and Jackson Roberts. There’s not much there in terms of losses. Thomas and Jones leaving was a surprise, Wiggins leaving was not, and Roberts was a walk-on, so we won’t worry about him too much.
Wiggins had a disappointing season, lost his spot in the starting lineup and generally regressed from last year. Thomas never got a shot with the program, so we’ll never know what he could have been. Was he really worse than Jake Heidbreder? If so, he can’t be considered a loss.
Then there’s Jones, who showed flashes during his freshman season (Who knew a freshman was allowed to play?). It’s disappointing to see Jones leave. There is potential there, and we don’t know why he jumped into the portal. We’ll leave the speculation for others.
So, who is returning?
Dillon Hunter looks like the leader of next year’s roster, and he can handle that role. But can he turn into a scorer next season and be “the guy?” That will be a big storyline for that team.
Heidbreder is supposed to be a talented shooter, but he didn’t fill that role this season and is a big-time liability on defense. Christian Reeves is a liability on offense, but he can rebound and play defense. Heidbreder and Reeves still could leave, too, but would they be considered losses?
And … that’s it.
It doesn’t sound very promising, does it?
Then there are the new faces: Dallas Thomas and Ace Buckner redshirted this season, and you have to wonder if they will get any meaningful minutes next year. It would be wise for the coaches to stop redshirting players if they’re not going to get them any minutes the following year and have them walk away. We saw this year how much depth is needed at the end of the season, especially when there’s a key injury.
Zac Foster, Chase Thompson and Trent Steinour make up a talented signing class, but again, you have to wonder if they actually will get any minutes. Maybe this is the group that changes that, and it really can have an immediate, big-time impact on the program. It would be nice to see these young players form the core of the program, but first, they have to get on the court.
With the new roster limits coming for men’s basketball (15 reportedly will be the number), Brad Brownell and his staff could look for as many as nine players to fill out the roster. That’s … a lot, especially in a coach’s 15th year with the program.
We’ll see where the staff turns and who it brings in, but this new group needs to be more athletic with better shooting than what we saw in the NCAA Tournament. If not, next year could be rough, and there will be a drop in the ACC standings with a longshot chance at getting back into March Madness.
We're glad you found us -- be sure to watch on YouTube so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

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Best-ever Clemson defensive tackles include Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins. Plus: Peter Woods leads Tigers DTs season preview for 2025

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson defensive tackles?

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

Clemson Defensive Tackles

Clemson Defensive Ends

Clemson Linebackers

Clemson Safeties

Clemson Cornerbacks

Clemson Wide Receivers

Clemson Tight Ends

Clemson Offensive Line

Clemson Running Backs

Clemson Quarterbacks

What Gordon Sellars adds for Clemson | Call to arms for Clemson baseball | Jestin Porter commits

Clemson's Cade Klubnik, energy on D beat spring portal risks | New men's hoops transfer | Baseball, softball

Clemson men's basketball's big season -- and rough ending

Clemson Kickoff