When he was a freshman, no one could stop Dexter Lawrence. The Clemson defensive tackle played a big role in the Tigers’ run to the national championship that year.
At 6-foot-5, 340 pounds, Lawrence became Clemson’s most hyped defensive tackle since William Perry’s freshman year in 1981, coincidentally the only other year the Tigers won a national championship on the gridiron.
Like Perry, Lawrence’s athleticism and speed shined at the point of attack and his strength made double teaming him almost impossible. He finished his freshman season with 79 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, while playing in all 15 games and starting 11.