Dexter Lawrence
FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson is tackled by the Clemson defense during the first half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans. The crunching hits, game-changing interceptions and dominating defense is the same for No. 1 Clemson. It's just the names that change from year to year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
No. 1 Clemson has new faces on defense and still dominating

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 20, 2020 03:50 PM EDT

Clemson football player Tee Higgins runs the 40-yard dash during NFL Pro Day Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson's Simmons shows off for NFL personnel at pro day

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 12, 2020 05:07 PM EDT

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney plays the cymbal on the drum of a member of the 3rd Line Brass Band as he arrives with the team for the NCAA College Football Playoff title game in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Clemson is scheduled to play LSU on Monday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Analysis: Clemson will win with talent to slow LSU, Burrow

By Pete Iacobelli Jan. 11, 2020 02:21 PM EST

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney speaks during a news conference ahead for the College Football playoffs Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, in Atlanta. Ryan Day of Ohio State was unable to attend. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Suspended Clemson TE returns for College Football Playoff

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 27, 2019 05:47 PM EST

North Carolina State's Zonovan Knight (24) runs away from Clemson's K'Von Wallace (12) for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
No. 3 Clemson focused heading into final push to playoffs

By Pete Iacobelli Nov. 15, 2019 10:00 AM EST

North Carolina coach Mack Brown is consoled by Cam'Ron Kelly as they leave the field following a 38-31 loss to Virginia during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
Under pressure: Defenses thriving in sack-happy ACC

By Will Graves Nov. 13, 2019 01:27 PM EST

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney calls out commands during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson's re-tooled defense playing like 'one of the best'

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 29, 2019 12:23 PM EDT

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, left, argues with a game official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisville in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Once again, No. 4 Clemson not allowing many yards or points

By Gary B. Graves Oct. 20, 2019 04:44 PM EDT

New York Giants players, including Antonio Hamilton (30), Sterling Shepard (87), Michael Thomas, and Dexter Lawrence (97) celebrate after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9/22/2019

Oct. 08, 2019 02:56 PM EDT

North Carolina's Sam Howell (7) gets stopped on a two-point conversion by Clemson's James Skalski (47) and Xavier Thomas (3) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
All-America Watch: No. 2 Clemson reloads on D-line

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 08, 2019 02:45 PM EDT

Syracuse head coach Dino Babers speaks with quarterback Tommy DeVito (13) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Will Newton)
Bring on the noise: Syracuse awaits No. 1 Clemson at Dome

By John Kekis Sep. 13, 2019 10:52 AM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 file photo, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, center, and defensive coach Brent Venables, left, watch the action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M in Clemson, S.C. Tyler Davis didn’t plan on starting this soon for Clemson, given the depth the Tigers had stockpiled at defensive tackle the past few seasons. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables had planned for the talent drain and had brought along several linemen like Williams and junior Xavier Kelly to take over. They didn’t count on Davis forcing his way into the starting lineup. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Freshman DT Davis filling void left by Clemson All-American

By Pete Iacobelli Sep. 10, 2019 04:52 PM EDT

Clemson's A.J. Terrell (8) blocks a pass intended for Texas A&M's Jhamon Ausbon during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
'As good as it gets': Venables reloads Clemson defense

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 08, 2019 04:35 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 26, 2019, file photo, Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins, right, reacts as quarterback Lucas Johnson (7) holds him during the team's NCAA college spring football game in Atlanta. Collins is only a few days away from the first big test for his new team, a visit to No. 1 Clemson, the defending national champion Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
No. 1 Clemson opens defense of title against Georgia Tech

By The Associated Press Aug. 28, 2019 02:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 26, 2019, file photo, Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins, right, reacts as quarterback Lucas Johnson (7) holds him during the team's NCAA college spring football game in Atlanta. Collins is only a few days away from the first big test for his new team, a visit to No. 1 Clemson, the defending national champion Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
Clemson's Lawrence confident, set for opener vs Georgia Tech

By Pete Iacobelli Aug. 28, 2019 11:19 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence throws during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama, in Santa Clara, Calif. Sure, Clemson lost all four of its “Power Rangers” defensive line and seven starters on defense from its title team. But the Tigers’ offense, led by Heisman Trophy candidates quarterback Trevor Lawrence and tailback Travis Etienne, looks ready to operate at an even higher level than a year ago when it averaged 527 yards and 44.3 points a game. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
Clemson poised to make a run at back-to-back national titles

By Pete Iacobelli Aug. 13, 2019 11:37 AM EDT

National champion Clemson opens preseason camp

By Pete Iacobelli Aug. 02, 2019 08:57 PM EDT
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has turned the page on last year's national championship. He believes his players have done the same. ...

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney speaks during the Atlantic Coast Conference NCAA college football media day in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Clemson confident CFP drug suspensions were outlier

By Pete Iacobelli Jul. 25, 2019 02:42 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 6, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence drops back to pass during Clemson's annual Orange and White NCAA college football spring scrimmage in Clemson, S.C. Clemson’s defense was a big reason why the Tigers won a second national championship in three seasons. Now that unit has massive holes to fill after losing its entire front to the NFL, along with three key linebackers and two members of the secondary _ and that could mean the Tigers have to win shootouts behind quarterback Trevor Lawrence to stay on top. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Clemson needs to fill major holes on defensive line

By Pete Iacobelli Jul. 16, 2019 04:24 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 6, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Braden Galloway celebrates a touchdown during their spring NCAA college football game in Clemson, S.C. Clemson tight end Braden Galloway and offensive lineman Zach Giella will miss next season after an NCAA panel rejected the school's appeal of their drug suspension. Clemson athletic spokesman Jeff Kallin said the school learned of the NCAA's decision on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
2 Clemson players suspended for season; NCAA rejects appeal

By Pete Iacobelli May. 24, 2019 10:28 AM EDT