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Why adding Purdue transfer Will Heldt is a first for Clemson's Dabo Swinney in the portal
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- Why adding Purdue transfer Will Heldt is a first for Clemson's Dabo Swinney in the portal
Clemson football has added its first scholarship defensive transfer portal player in Purdue defensive lineman Will Heldt , the school announced Thursday.
Heldt recorded 56 tackles, including 10 for loss, and five sacks in his second year with the Boilermakers this season. He has two years of eligibility remaining. He joins wide receiver Tristan Smith (2024), quarterbacks Hunter Johnson (2022) and Paul Tyson (2023) as the only scholarship players to transfer to Clemson in the portal era.
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Heldt chose Clemson over LSU and Texas A&M.
Here's how Heldt will fit with Clemson next season:
Why DL Will Heldt picked Clemson from transfer portal
Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said Clemson was eyeing a defensive end during his Wednesday availability. Clemson needed another edge rusher who can pressure the quarterback. Defensive end T.J. Parker leads the team in sacks with 11, but the next closest defensive linemen are Peter Woods with three and Cade Denhoff two.
Heldt had five sacks with Purdue this season, which would tie for the second most on the Tigers. He can compete for the starting defensive end spot opposite of Parker next season.
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How Will Heldt will fit with Clemson football 's roster
Heldt will either start at defensive end for Clemson or be a critical rotational piece. He will be key in pass-rush situations, generating much of his success with Purdue in that area.
According to Pro Football Focus, Heldt logged 26 pressures with Purdue this season. That total exceeds every Clemson defensive player except Parker (49). Heldt will boost Clemson's edge-rushing ability to not have to rely heavily on Parker for pressures and sacks.
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Clemson football transfer targets
As Clemson prepares to face Texas in the first round of the CFP on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, TNT) in Austin, Texas, its major needs were wide receiver and defensive end. The Tigers filled those with Smith and Heldt.
A potential need could be at safety though. R.J. Mickens will be gone, Tyler Venables can either depart or return because of a COVID year and Sherrod Covil Jr. entered the portal. Clemson came into the 2024 season with 10 safeties and could be at eight (including incoming signee Jakarrion Kenan).
Only Mickens, Khalil Barnes and Kylon Griffin made starts at safety this season. Clemson can add a proven safety through the portal and have him play alongside Barnes to strengthen its back end.
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When does transfer portal close?
The portal is open until Dec. 28 or five days after the final game for players on teams that are playing in the postseason. Players on teams that undergo a head coaching change outside the traditional window will have 30 additional days to enter.
Players can commit to a new school at any time, whether or not it is within the transfer window. Players hoping to enroll for spring practice must commit by early January, but players who enter the portal in the fall are allowed to commit and then join the team during the summer.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football lands Will Heldt, a Purdue transfer. How he fits
