Dec 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end T.J. Parker (3) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the 2024 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
T.J. Parker DE/EDGE Clemson |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #3 SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 01/28/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.68 seconds (83%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.10 DOB: 09/19/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #3 | |
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 01/28/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.68 seconds (83%*) | |
| Age: 21.10 DOB: 09/19/2004 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 87.2 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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72% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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71% |
| Pass Rush: |
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85% |
| Run Defense: |
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84% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Mid
Overall Rank:
#19
Position rank:
#4 (DL)
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| College Games: 39 College Snaps: 1652 | ||
ESPN RATING: 85/100
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247 RATING: 97/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Thomas - San Diego State |
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96% |
| Brennan Jackson - Washington State |
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90% |
| Marshawn Kneeland - Western Michigan |
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89% |
Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 35 (BUF)
Draft Profile: Bio
Tomarrion "T.J." Parker hails from Phenix City, Alabama, where Central High School has become something of a Clemson pipeline in recent years. Born September 19, 2004, Parker terrorized opposing backfields throughout his prep career, racking up 63 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior while helping Central to a 10-3 record. His junior campaign was even more destructive with 75 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. The 6'4", 263-pound defender earned four-star status from Rivals, ESPN, and 247Sports, with composite rankings placing him among the nation's top 50 overall prospects in the 2023 class. Originally committed to Penn State, Parker flipped to Clemson in November 2022 and enrolled early in January 2023.Parker's freshman season at Clemson announced his arrival in spectacular fashion. He shattered Myles Murphy's freshman record with 12.5 tackles for loss while adding 5.5 sacks and earning Freshman All-American honors from 247Sports, ESPN, the FWAA, The Athletic, and several other outlets. His performance at Syracuse that year, a five-tackle, two-sack demolition, made him the first Clemson true freshman with multiple sacks in a game since Murphy himself in 2020. The accolades kept coming as a sophomore: 64 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and a school-record six forced fumbles earned him second-team All-ACC recognition and national attention.
That Pittsburgh game in 2024 will live in Clemson lore. Parker went nuclear with seven tackles, five tackles for loss, and four sacks, tying the school record held by Keith Adams (1999), Andre Branch (2011), and Austin Bryant (2017). The performance earned him Bednarik Award National Player of the Week, Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, and ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week in one fell swoop. He finished his sophomore year as the only player in the nation ranking top-10 in forced fumbles, tackles for loss, and sacks. His junior season saw a dip in production with five sacks over 12 games, but Parker still flashed dominance, including a three-sack performance against South Carolina that pushed him past Chester McGlockton into 10th place on Clemson's all-time sack list. He earned his degree in sports communication in December 2025 and married former Clemson volleyball player Azyah Dailey that fall.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Weaponizes his hands at the point of attack with violent striking and active counters that regularly leave offensive tackles grasping at air.
- Ball-stripping ability is elite, not coincidental. Six forced fumbles in 2024 came from precise timing and calculated violence at the catch point.
- Long-arm rush can absolutely devastate tackles when he times it right, rolling them backward into the quarterback's lap and collapsing the pocket.
- Sets firm, immovable edges against the run by utilizing his length and upper-body strength to anchor, control, and discard blockers.
- Reads the backfield while rushing, adjusting his path to stay connected with the quarterback's movements rather than just chasing empty grass.
- Attacks the blocker's outside hand to open the corner, a subtle technical detail that creates free rushes when executed properly.
- Shows legitimate flexibility dropping into zone coverage, comfortable carrying backs and tight ends into the flat without looking stiff or lost.
- Competes with a visible edge and intensity when challenged. After getting chipped or cut, he responds by bringing extra violence to the next snap.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Not going to win many footraces to the corner. His get-off is solid but not special, so he needs to time the snap perfectly or rely on power.
- Down blocks give him trouble when they land clean. Gets pushed off his spot and opens up running lanes he should be squeezing shut.
- Disappears on plays that break to the opposite side. Limited range means he's a spectator when the action moves away from his gap.
- Needs more tricks in the bag. When tackles absorb his initial charge and sit down on him, he doesn't have reliable counters to keep them guessing.
- Tackling in the open field gets loose. Tends to swipe and grab rather than wrapping through ball carriers, which leads to missed opportunities.
Scouting Report: Summary
Put the tape on from 2024 and you see a defender who bends games to his will. The Pittsburgh performance alone shows what Parker is capable of when everything clicks. His hand usage is already NFL-caliber, violent and varied enough to keep tackles uncomfortable for four quarters. The ball production speaks for itself: six forced fumbles in a single season does not happen by accident. That kind of timing and awareness around the football translates directly to the next level, where turnovers swing games and seasons.Here's the deal on Parker: the 2025 tape might actually be more instructive for NFL evaluators than his gaudy 2024 numbers. He faced more attention, more chips, more scheme adjustments designed to neutralize him, and he didn't always have answers. That's not a red flag as much as it's a development arrow. His rush menu needs to grow beyond the long-arm and bull. When tackles sit down and absorb his power, he needs counters ready to deploy. The good news is that these are teachable skills, and Parker has already shown he can absorb coaching and refine his technique year over year.
The fit here is a 4-3 front that will let him pin his ears back on third down while trusting him to hold up against the run on early downs. He's not a liability when asked to set edges, and his coverage reps suggest some sub-package versatility. Pair him with an interior presence that commands double teams and watch Parker feast on one-on-one matchups. His floor is a quality starter who contributes immediately; his ceiling depends on whether he can diversify that pass rush approach. Given his track record of growth from Phenix City to Death Valley, betting against his development would be a mistake.
T.J. Parker percentiles vs other Defensive Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate T.J. Parker (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
31.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
5.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.