This disappointing five-star player must step up for the Clemson Tigers.
The Clemson Tigers have a pretty glaring hole at defensive tackle, a hole that grew even deeper following the team's suspension of veteran Vic Burley.
Amare Adams, Markus Strong and Andy Burburija will now be the three players likely vying for the most playing time at the position, and none of them have proven anything. In fact, Strong and Burburija are both transfer additions.
But what about Adams?
Well, there is reason to be optimistic about the 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman heading into 2026, but there are also reasons to be concerned.
Adams arrived as a five-star commit last year, but barely saw the field due to the presence of Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart on the interior. Clemson also had Stephiylan Green — who transferred to LSU over the winter — at the position.
But considering how highly Adams was touted heading into his freshman season with the Tigers, the fact that he didn't really produce at all (five tackles in 10 games) was certainly disappointing.
Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Amare Adams. Credit: USA TODAY Network.It's equally discouraging that Adams clearly hasn't separated himself in Clemson's defensive tackle competition in fall camp, as Dabo Swinney recently said that he has a bunch of "nobodies" in the trenches.
But with the Tigers having lost their top three defensive tackles from last year and also having suspended Burley following his arrest for disorderly conduct, the time is now for Adams to step up and establish himself as the alpha.
Strong and Burburija are both decent players, but neither carry the cachet — nor the raw talent — of Adams, who was the seventh-ranked player in the class of 2025 and chose Clemson over schools like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and Ole Miss.
The Tigers have built themselves upon developing elite NFL talents, and defensive tackle has been a special of theirs. DJ Reader. Dexter Lawrence. Christian Wilkins. Woods. The list goes on and on. Adams was initially expected to be a part of that group.
But thus far, the Jefferson, S.C. native has not come close to realizing his potential, and it has to be frustrating Swinney.
On the bright side, there is still ample time for Adams to break through. He is just a redshirt freshman, after all, and he has a clear opportunity to assert himself as Clemson's top DT for the 2026 campaign and beyond.
Whether or not Adams actually seizes that opportunity, however, remains to be seen.
