The ACC talent along the offensive line takes a back seat to no conference. Today, Last Word takes a look on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Dabo Swinney’s best teams had multiple NFL-caliber players rushing the quarterback and halting rushing attacks. Does Clemson still possess that kind of talent heading into 2025? Or does another ACC contender have the best of the ACC defensive linemen returning for action this fall?
The Best ACC Defensive Linemen Returning In 2025
Rueben Bain Jr – Miami
Mario Cristobal is still trying to have the true breakthrough season for the Hurricanes with a playoff appearance and potentially a conference title as well. He is really hoping that Rueben Bain Jr can still be healthy in 2025. The 2023 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year was limited to five-and-a-half tackles for loss and three-and-a-half sacks as he appeared in only nine games in 2024 while battling through a foot injury. If he doesn’t regain form, there is no reason to expect his output to be anything less than his stellar freshman season. In 2023, Bain Jr produced 12.5 tackles for loss and seven-and-a-half sacks. He will also be more versatile in 2025 as he will line up both inside and outside for new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.
Peter Woods – Clemson
ACC Defensive Linemen
Photo courtesy: Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Next stop on the ACC’s best defensive linemen unit brings us to Clemson, SC. The expectations are to build off of a conference championship and playoff appearance in 2024. Clemson has tons of talent coming back, including some elite playmakers on the defensive front. One of those players is Peter Woods. In his first season as a full-time starter, Woods had 28 tackles, including eight-and-a-half for loss and three sacks. Even before he was a full-time starter, Woods had a big impact in his freshman season. He finished with 27 tackles, two-and-a-half for loss, and a forced fumble in 12 games. Woods was named to the 2023 Freshman All-American team as a result. The Tigers can only hope he continues to develop and raise his play to the next level.
Jordan Van Den Berg – Georgia Tech
Brent Key’s Yellow Jacket team had a breakout season in 2024 (for Georgia Tech standards). It’s the first time Georgia Tech finished with seven wins in consecutive seasons since 2013-‘14. If Key and his team want to continue to build up to being a top-tier team in the conference, it helps to have one of the best ACC defensive linemen on their roster. Jordan Van Den Berg transferred to Georgia Tech after spending three seasons playing for Penn State. He made minimal impact in those three seasons, but had a coming-out performance in 2024. He appeared in all 13 games and made seven starts at defensive tackle. Van Den Berg recorded 23 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
His two fumble recoveries were tied for 19th nationally. He had six game grades of 70 or higher fromPro Football Focus, including a career-high 89.7 grade against Syracuse. His quality play earned him a second-team all-ACC selection in 2024.
The Best ACC Defense Lineman Is T.J. Parker- Clemson
While Van Den Berg had a great season, the ACC’s best defensive linemen group is headlined by T.J. Parker. Not only is he the best in the conference, but there might not be a better edge rusher in the country. In 27 career games (17 starts), he has six forced fumbles, 32 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks. His most notable performance last season came in the ACC Championship Game, where SMU had no answer for him. The combination of Woods and Parker will give all opposing offensive lines nightmares all season. Parker is already showing up in the first round of 2026 NFL mock drafts. One more monster season from Parker could push him into a top-ten selection.
Main Image: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images