Clemson’s first recruiting stumble of the 2026 cycle arrived this week when defensive end Dre Quinn backed off his commitment. The Buford, Georgia, product had pledged to the Tigers during the summer, choosing them over Texas in what was viewed as a strong recruiting win. On Thursday, however, he decided to re-open his recruitment, leaving the Tigers with one fewer option at a position of real need.
The setback is not so much about star rankings, since Quinn does not appear inside the top 350 nationally, but more about the timing and the position. Clemson’s staff already knew it needed help at defensive end in the 2026 class. With Quinn gone, three-star JR Hardrick is the lone edge rusher still committed. Four-star linemen Keshawn Stancil and Kameron Cody are also part of the group, but they are better fits in other spots across the line, not on the edge.
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Looking ahead, depth will be a major concern. TJ Parker is on track to head to the NFL, Purdue transfer Will Heldt may have the same opportunity if he continues to play at his current level, and veteran Cade Denhoff will finish his eligibility after this season. That means Clemson could be without three key ends going into next year. The only returning scholarship players would be Jahiem Lawson, Darien Mayo, Caden Story, and Markus Dixon. Lawson has flashed promise, Mayo will be in year three and could push for a larger role, but Story has barely seen the field and Dixon only recently moved to end.
That reality makes the position one of the most pressing priorities for Clemson moving forward. The staff has kept an eye on local standout Franklin Whitley of Greenville, who visited earlier this season, and the transfer portal may once again become a central piece of the plan. Swinney has already turned there for help at defensive end with the addition of Heldt, and he may not have a choice but to do it again.
Quinn was not a guarantee to see early playing time, but his upside gave him a chance to eventually push into the rotation. Losing him does not sink the class, but it does underline just how much work remains for Clemson to stabilize the edge group. For now, the Tigers will move forward with three defensive line commitments in the 2026 class, but there is little doubt that the board at defensive end will need to grow.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Losing 4-star defensive end Dre Quinn could be huge for Clemson
