Clemson’s T.J. Parker doesn’t do subtle. When he’s on the field, quarterbacks hear footsteps, offensive tackles see ghosts, and fans get a front-row seat to organized chaos. The sophomore defensive edge was a nightmare in 2024, racking up 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles. And that was after opponents spent all offseason scheming to stop him. But at ACC Media Day, Parker’s talks had nothing to do with technique or sack counts. Nope. He came with a mission, and it had nothing to do with defense.
It’s a touchdown, but not your regular defensive touchdown. Look, defensive players wanting to score a touchdown isn’t exactly new. We’ve seen pick-sixes, scoop-and-scores, and even the occasional fumble recovery ballet. But Parker? He’s not talking about cleaning up a broken screen pass. He wants something cleaner. Fancier. More earned. And he made that very clear to the world—and to Dabo Swinney. “I told Coach Swinney, I said if I’m gonna come here, I need at least one touchdown before I leave,” Parker said, mid-laugh but dead serious. “Man, I need one pass. My first time ever playing tight end in high school? Three catches, 110 yards, and a touchdown.”
He’s got the receipts, too. “Go route,” Parker said, grinning like a kid in a candy store. “Check my tape, my senior year highlight against IMG—ESPN, first play of the game, 87-yard touchdown.” Not only that, he dropped straight names, “Coach Swinney, when you see this. Coach [C.J.] Spiller. Coach [Tyler] Grisham. Coach [Garrett] Riley. I want a touchdown.” And just to be clear, he’s not asking for some gimmick play. “I don’t need no screen. We runnin’. I want to earn that touchdown.” You hear that, Garrett Riley? This is a man on a mission.
“Coach Swinney when you see this … I WANT A TOUCHDOWN.”@ClemsonFB star DE TJ Parker (@tomarrion) says he needs an offensive touchdown before he leaves Clemson. Preferred play? A go-route. “We runnin, I wanna earn it.”@abc_columbia pic.twitter.com/hpaTNgibk5
— Noah Chast (@NoahChastTV) July 24, 2025
And the wild part? It actually doesn’t sound crazy. Parker moves like a linebacker, hits like a freight train, and apparently has better hands than some WRs in the portal. If Barrett Carter got a rushing touchdown last season, why can’t T.J. get his go-ball moment? You know the Death Valley crowd would lose their collective minds if No. 3 lined up split wide on 2nd and goal. And if anyone’s earned the ‘just let him try it once’ card, it’s the best DE in the country.
So the next time you see Parker blow up a double team and flatten a QB, just know, he’s still thinking about that go route. Somewhere deep in Dabo’s playbook, there might just be one designed for him. Or maybe Garrett Riley’s already cooking something up. Either way, when it happens (and we’re manifesting it), you better believe T.J. Parker is taking that ball to the house and flexing on everyone afterward. Because this isn’t just about a touchdown, it’s about legacy. And possibly the best crossover play since the Fridge ran for the Bears.
The post TJ Parker Pressures Dabo Swinney to Honor Promise That Got Star EDGE to Clemson appeared first on EssentiallySports.
