Clemson Tigers' star defensive end T.J. Parker has officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft early this week.
As the Clemson Tigers begin to prepare for the team’s bowl game matchup against the Penn State Nittany Lions, head coach Dabo Swinney received some unfortunate news this week regarding the future of his defense.
On Tuesday night, On3Sports’ Hayes Fawcett reported that Clemson star EDGE rusher T.J. Parker has decided to forgo his final college season and declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
As a four-star recruit out of the state of Alabama, Parker quickly jumped on the radar of many NFL scouts after his impressive sophomore season with the Tigers.
In 2024, the young talent finished the season with 57 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles. Parker’s efforts last season helped Clemson reach the 2024 College Football Playoffs, where they would unfortunately lose to the Texas Longhorns in the first round, 38-24.
This year, however, was a completely different story for the defensive end.
During the 12 games that he started this year, Parker saw his production take a massive dip from the previous season, finishing the regular season with 37 tackles and five sacks.
This led fans to believe that he could potentially return for his senior season, but Parker ultimately decided to test the waters of the NFL.
Looking at where Parker could land in the upcoming draft, the young playmaker will have to ride on the success of his sophomore season.
He is currently the No. 17-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked EDGE in PFF’s 2026 Big Board. Overall, he is widely considered to be a late first-round talent, which could mean Parker has a legitimate chance to land with a playoff-contending team.
At 6-foot-3, 260 lbs., Parker is a physical freak off the line of scrimmage, which is a key reason why he has found success with the Tigers over the past three seasons. His ability to quickly get off the line and his raw strength give him a terrific baseline to develop at the next level.
If Parker wants to become an impact player at the next level, it’s clear that he must work on his pass rush technique. Part of the reason he saw a decline in his numbers this season was due to his limited pass-rush moves, which means he must join a coaching staff that can develop him in the NFL.