Dabo Swinney’s strongest 3 position groups for 2025

CLEMSON — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney always touts his program’s retention rate, and its success this offseason has the Tigers in position to thrive.

Clemson lost six players, all reserves, in both transfer portal windows combined, while it added three portal players, the most in one cycle under Swinney, who is entering his 18th year as coach.

Now the Tigers have one of the most experienced teams in the country on both sides of the ball as they pursue their first College Football Playoff national championship appearance since 2020.

Here are Clemson’s top position groups ahead of the 2025 season:

Peter Woods, TJ Parker headline Clemson football’s loaded defensive line

This unit is led by tackle Peter Woods and end T.J. Parker, both of whom could be taken in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Woods, who cut his weight from 320 pounds to 300 this spring, is a disruptor, recording three sacks and one forced fumble in 11 games last season.

Parker led Clemson in sacks with 11 and set the program record for forced fumbles in a single season with six. Will Heldt, who transferred from Purdue, is expected to play opposite Parker, and defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart has returned for his sixth season to play alongside Woods.

If Clemson’s starting line excels this season and leads it to the national championship, it could draw comparisons to the “Power Rangers,” the quartet of Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins and Austin Bryant who helped the Tigers to a 41-3 record, three CFP appearances and two national titles from 2016 through 2018.

Clemson also has quality rotational pieces who can contribute, like tackle Stephiylan Green, Vic Burley and Amare Adams and ends Jahiem Lawson and Cade Denhoff.

MORE: How Clemson football stacks up vs returning QBs from LaNorris Sellers to Garrett Nussmeier

Clemson…

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Publish date : 2025-06-17 09:02:00

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