The Clemson Tigers are a contending team in both the ACC and the national title conversation. One of the players they are going to be leaning on in a big way is future NFL Draft pick T.J. Parker.
Clemson Star T.J. Parker Pegged as First Defensive Player Taken in 2026 NFL Mock Draft
According to College Sports Network’s latest mock draft, Parker is projected to be the first defender off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He is projected to go to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall. This would not be a surprise at all for those who have seen Parker play at his best.
The Alabama native is one of the best defenders in the ACC and has all of the potential in the world to be great at the next level. His impressive numbers at Clemson certainly speak for themselves.
T.J. Parker Has Flashed Plenty of NFL Ability Already
Standing at 6’3″ and weighing close to 270 pounds, the soon-to-be junior went from recording 33 tackles as a freshman to recording 57 as a sophomore. He also more than doubled his solo tackles output (34 in 2024).
But what is perhaps the most impressive part of his game is his desire to get after the opposing quarterback. He went from recording 5.5 sacks as a freshman to bringing the quarterback down 11 times last season.
No. 3 in orange and purple also forced a whopping six forced fumbles last year, which was remarkable. He ended up recovering two of those forced fumbles, as well.
As an upperclassman with plenty of experience, he has a bright future ahead of him, both on this team and in the NFL. Of course, if he plays like the star that he is, the Tigers can do more than just make it to the College Football Playoff.
KEEP READING: Clemson Tigers Top 10 Returning Players in 2025 Include Cade Klubnik, T.J. Moore
The combination of quarterback Cade Klubnik leading the offense and Parker leading the defense should make this team a very dangerous out once the Fall arrives.
While fellow ACC teams such as Miami, SMU, and perhaps North Carolina could all be formidable, the Tigers should be looked at as the favorites in the conference this season.
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