Clemson May Have Found Its Next Christian Wilkins in Amare Adams

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Lockett | Last updated May 26, 2025 10:18 AM ET

Clemson fans have seen dominant defensive linemen come through Death Valley—names like Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence and Bryan Bresee defined an era of physicality and grit. Now, a new name is emerging with similar potential: freshman Amare Adams.

A South Carolina native and consensus top-100 national prospect, Adams joins the Tigers as one of the elite interior defenders in the 2025 class. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive tackle from South Florence High School won the prestigious Anthony Muñoz National Lineman of the Year Award and was Clemson’s highest-ranked signee in the cycle, checking in at No. 23 overall by 247Sports.

Adams capped his prep career with a dominant week at the Navy All-American Bowl, where he impressed with both his measurements and on-field performance. According to a 247Sports scouting report, Adams is a “game-wrecking interior defensive lineman” with rare size, power and athleticism.

Light on his feet and well-coordinated, he’s known for using brute force over finesse but boasts quick get-off, strong anchor ability against double teams, and lateral agility to chase plays down the line. His instincts and play recognition allow him to disrupt passing lanes and affect the pocket consistently.

He posted 250 career tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in high school. As a senior, Adams helped South Florence win a Class AAAA state title and earned Player of the Year honors from the Florence Morning News. He also played basketball and ran track.

Adams was already earning early reps in Clemson’s spring practices. His physical readiness and rare movement skills make him one of the more promising front-line defenders in the 2025 cycle—and a potential early contributor in a reloaded Clemson front.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has been effusive in his praise of Adams throughout spring practice, calling the five-star freshman a “big, strong, destructive human being” with rare athleticism for his size.

Swinney compared Adams to former Tiger standout Bryan Bresee, noting that Adams may actually be more polished at this stage of his career. “He can freakin’ move,” Swinney said. “He’s gonna help us. He’s big, he moves people, and he knows how to win.” With several veterans sidelined this spring, Adams has taken full advantage of extended reps, impressing coaches with his twitch, intelligence and ability to dismantle blocks.

Swinney emphasized that while Adams didn’t face true competition at the high school level, he’s now being tested daily against college linemen like Tristan Leigh and Harris Sewell—experience that’s accelerating his development. The top-ranked signee in Clemson’s 2025 class, Adams is already proving he has the tools to make an early impact.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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