Bills Coach Gets Honest on Former Clemson Star TJ Parker
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Former Clemson Tigers star pass rusher T.J. Parker is in his first training camp in the NFL. The Buffalo Bills selected Parker with the 35th overall pick in the NFL Draft, and he is already impressing coaches in training camp.
"We're really glad we got him. He did a tremendous job transitioning his body over the last six weeks," Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said.
Parker was an elite pass rusher during his three years at Clemson. In his freshman year in 2023, he finished with 32 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.
In 2024, he broke out as a star, recording 57 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, a pass deflection, six forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Parker didn't play as well in the 2025 season, finishing with 37 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, a pass deflection, and three fumble recoveries. Despite the down season, he was still one of the top pass rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft, leading Buffalo to select him early in the second round.
The Tigers will miss Parker's presence on their defense despite a disappointing 2025 season. Dabo Swinney's group struggled as a whole in 2025, finishing 7-6 and falling to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Clemson entered the season among the favorites to win the National Championship, but the roster didn't click despite having a ton of talent.
The Tigers had nine players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, but couldn't make it to the College Football Playoff.
The underwhelming season led Swinney to make changes, bringing in Chad Morris as the offensive coordinator and Rich Bisaccia as the special teams coordinator. Swinney was also more aggressive in utilizing the transfer portal, as Clemson added 10 players.
Swinney and the Tigers have a talented roster heading into 2026, but with a ton of change, it will be challenging to make it back to the College Football Playoff.
While Swinney looks to lead Clemson on a bounce-back season, Parker will be looking to impress in his rookie campaign off the edge for the Bills.
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