Former Clemson Tigers Defensive Star Picked Among Best Players in NFL
A former Clemson Tigers defensive star has been voted by his NFL peers among the best players in the league.
NFL talent has been produced by Dabo Swinney during his time as head coach of the Clemson Tigers. This was also the case in the 2024 NFL Draft, when six Tigers were selected. They will be joining the pro ranks that are full of Clemson products. While players on both sides of the ball have been selected, it is the defense that has been their calling card.
Dexter Lawrence, a defensive tackle for the Tigers, is one of those players who made the transition from exceptional to NFL star. Lawrence, who was selected by the New York Giants with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, has emerged as one of the league’s most dominant players. One could make a compelling case that Lawrence is currently the finest defensive lineman in the NFL given that Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald announced his retirement from the NFL this summer. His peers share his strong feelings on that.
Recently, the top 100 players in the NFL, voted on by players, was released. Lawrence came in at No. 24 on the list, moving up four spots from where he was in the 2023 list.
“Lawrence remains a constant on the defensive line for a Giants squad still looking to find consistency. The numbers don’t initially jump off the page — Lawrence had 53 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two pass deflections in 2023 — but he was nonetheless a dominant force in the trenches. Lawrence’s 92.9 was the highest overall PFF grade for any interior defensive lineman, as was his 92.6 pass-rush grade. His run defense graded out at 89.5, third among his peers,” was written about the former Clemson star.
On this year’s list, Lawrence is ranked lower than just seven defensive players. Since he is regarded by NFL players as the top player at his position in the league, none of them are defensive tackles. Lawrence is a formidable presence in the middle of the defensive line, as the blurb mentioned. Whether he’s playing run defense or pass rusher, he always does the job. In two consecutive seasons, he has earned a position in the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro Second Team. He came in eighth place in the Defensive Player of the Year vote in 2023.
There is a chance we haven’t even seen the best of the former Tigers star. With the Giants’ defensive talent improving in 2024, Lawrence could be in for a monster season being bookended by Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.