CLEMSON – When defensive end Will Heldt announced his commitment to Clemson out of the transfer portal in December of 2024, it sent waves across the college football landscape.
The edge rusher out of Purdue Univerity was the first defensive player head coach Dabo Swinney and his staff signed out of the transfer portal, and one of only three total portal players that cycle.
After two stellar seasons at Purdue, it made sense why Swinney wanted the disruptive Carmel, Ind., native in the orange and purple.
In his first two college football seasons, Heldt notched 56 tackles (10 for loss), five sacks, and a fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown across 24 games.