Clemson Defense Preview 2025: Can the Tiger Defense Be Championship-Caliber?

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 2:25 AM ET

The defense has to step it up a bit.

Clemson is more than good enough to challenge for and win the ACC title again, but it has to be a bit stronger, especially against the run. Last year, the Tigers were 2-4 when allowing 31 points or more, and 8-0 against everyone else.

(By the way, the 2019 team that lost the national title to LSU didn’t give up more than 23 points until the CFP Championship, and the 2018 team that won it all only allowed more than 23 points twice and over 30 once.)

And it will be.

It’s not quite as loaded with experience as the other side is, but it’s not far off. There’s NFL talent, depth, and - shock of shocks, for Clemson - a few transfers to fill in the gaps.

Clemson Tigers Preview 2025: Defense

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2025 Clemson Preview
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- The defensive front will be a terror in opposing backfields, and now the run D has to be better. The line was hardly bad, but now it’ll go to a whole new level with end Will Heldt (Purdue) coming in to take some of the attention away from TJ Parker, a potential top ten overall pick who made 65 tackles, 11 sacks, and 19.5 tackles for loss.

There are some losses - tackle Tre Williams going to Missouri and end AJ Hoffer leaving for Georgia Tech isn’t a plus - but as long as the tackles hold up, all will be fine.

315-pound veteran Peter Woods will be a good anchor again inside next to fellow 315-pounder DeMonte Capehart, who’ll be more than fine stepping into a bigger role. Stephiylan Green is a 6-4, 290-pound interior star of the near future.

- The secondary will be terrific. Avieon Terrell is a future NFL corner coming off a 13 broken-up-pass season, and Ashton Hampton and Jeadyn Lukas are solid on the other side.

Khalil Barnes is a good-hitting safety who can play any role. He’s the veteran of the group with Ricardo Jones and Kylon Griffin two experienced parts of the rotation who’ll step into starting gigs.

- Wade Woodaz and Sammy Brown were 1-2 in tackles, respectively. They combined for 176 tackles with eight sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. These two will continue to be all over the place, and on the way is Jeremiah Alexander (Alabama), a 6-2, 250-pounder who’ll bring a little more size. Jamal Anderson is smaller, quicker option for the rotation.

Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season
2025 Clemson Preview
Clemson Offense Breakdown

This article first appeared on College Football News and was syndicated with permission.

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