In 2016, Lawrence played in 12 games for the Tigers at defensive tackle. Throughout the regular season, he recorded 55 tackles and five sacks. The five sacks he recorded in his freshman year is a Clemson record.[9] Lawrence beat the previous record of four set by William Perry, Ricky Sapp, and Shaq Lawson. Lawrence was subsequently named the 2016 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.[10] Lawrence was part of the Clemson team that defeated Alabama in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship by a score of 35–31. In the game, he recorded four total tackles.[11] Dexter was ruled ineligible for the 2019 College Football Playoff after testing positive for the banned substance ostarine.[12][13] After the season, Lawrence decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2019 NFL draft.[14]
In Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lawrence recorded his first career sack on Jameis Winston in the 32-31 win.[20] In Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings, Lawrence recorded a sack and a forced fumble on Kirk Cousins in the 28-10 loss.[21] As a rookie, he started in all 16 games. He finished with 2.5 sacks, 38 total tackles (24 solo), one pass defended, and one forced fumble as the Giants went 4–12.[22] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[23]
In the 2020 season, Lawrence appeared in 16 games and started 15. He finished with four sacks, 53 total tackles (30 solo), and two passes defended as the Giants went 6–10.[24][25]
During Week 2 of the 2021 season against the Washington Football Team, Lawrence jumped offsides on the final play of the 4th quarter, a Dustin Hopkins missed field goal, which nullified the Washington kick attempt. The Giants would lose 29–30 on Hopkins' successful re-kick, dropping to 0–2 for the fifth consecutive season.[26] In the 2021 season, he appeared in 16 games and started 11. He finished with 2.5 sacks, 54 total tackles (27 solo), two passes defended, and one forced fumble.[27]
On April 28, 2022, the Giants picked up the fifth-year option on Lawrence’s rookie contract.[28]
The 2022 season marked a career year for Lawrence. In Week 4, he tallied 2 sacks against the Chicago Bears, the first multi-sack game of his career, then earned praise from Aaron Rodgers following their comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers a week later.[29] In a Week 15 tilt against the Washington Commanders, he forced an incomplete pass from Taylor Heinicke that turned out to be a key forced fumble which the Giants recovered.[30] The Giants made the playoffs in 2022 for the first time in his career. He finished the 2022 season with 7.5 sacks, 68 tackles, 28 quarterback hits and 2 forced fumbles.[31] As well as being selected to his first Pro Bowl and first All-Pro team.[32][33] He was ranked 28th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.[34]
On May 4, 2023, Lawrence signed a four-year, $90 million extension with the Giants.[35]
In Week 8 of the 2023 New York Giants season, Lawrence recorded a sack, a tackle-for-loss, 5 quarterback hits, and 15 quarterback pressures against the New York Jets, which tied the record for the most pressures in a single game by an interior defender.[36] He finished the 2023 season with 4.5 sacks, 53 total tackles (32 solo), and two passes defended.[37] He earned Pro Bowl honors and second team All-Pro honors for the 2023 season.[38][39] He was ranked 24th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024.[40]
In Week 5 of the 2024 season against the Seattle Seahawks, Lawrence recorded a single-game career high 3 sacks on Geno Smith.[41]
In Week 12, Lawrence suffered a season ending injury.
2024 was a career year for Lawrence, recording 9 sacks in only 12 games. He was named to the 2024 NFLPA All-Pro team.[42]
Julius Frazier Peppers is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was selected by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL draft, and also played for the Chicago Bears from 2010 through 2013 and the Green Bay Packers from 2014 to 2016. After rejoining the Panthers for the 2017 season, he retired after the 2018 NFL season.
Lawrence Olajuwon Timmons is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He won Super Bowl XLIII with the Steelers the following year, and played in Super Bowl XLV two years later. He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles.
Chandler James Jones is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football for the Syracuse Orange and was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Khalil Delshon Mack is an American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls and was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
Victor Ramon Beasley Jr. is an American professional football linebacker for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). After playing college football for Clemson University, Beasley was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
Leonard Austin Williams is an American professional football defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football for the USC Trojans.
DeMarcus Lawrence is an American professional football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football for the Butler Community College Grizzlies and Boise State Broncos.
DeForest George Buckner is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. With the 49ers, Buckner made a Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2019. With the Colts, he was selected to the first-team All Pro in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2023.
Grady Jarrett is an American professional football defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers.
Shaquil Akeem Barrett is an American professional football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks before transferring to the Colorado State Rams. Barrett was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL draft. After five seasons with the Broncos, including winning Super Bowl 50, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barrett's level of play increased, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 2019 after leading the league in sacks, and in 2021 won Super Bowl LV, recording a sack in the game. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before retiring from football shortly after.
Shaquille Lawson is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers, and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. Lawson has been on the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and was traded to the New York Jets during the 2021 season. Lawson was released by the Jets prior to their season finale and returned to the Bills the following offseason.
Trent Jordan Watt is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers for four years. After redshirting his freshman year, Watt injured his knee in his sophomore year, keeping him out until the 2015 season. Watt broke out in 2016, recording 11.5 sacks and receiving various collegiate honors. After foregoing his last year of college eligibility, Watt was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.
Nicholas John Bosa is an American professional football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected second overall by the 49ers in the 2019 NFL draft. Bosa was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and helped his team reach Super Bowl LIV. In 2022, he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He is the son of former NFL defensive end John Bosa and younger brother of Joey Bosa, currently a linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Clelin Ferrell is an American professional football defensive end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers, winning the 2018 Ted Hendricks Award prior to being selected fourth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2019 NFL draft. Ferrell has also played for the San Francisco 49ers, making Super Bowl LVIII with the team.
Darius Shaquille Leonard is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the South Carolina State Bulldogs and was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. In his rookie season, Leonard led the league in tackles and was named a First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year; he was also voted into the NFL Top 100 the following offseason. Leonard has been informally nicknamed "Maniac" due to his energetic and productive on-field play.
Brian Burns is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Kayvon Thibodeaux is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Los Angeles, he was named USA Today's High School Football Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.
Isaiah Simmons is an American professional football safety for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals eighth overall in the 2020 NFL draft. While at Clemson, Simmons was noted for his positional versatility as he played linebacker, defensive end, cornerback and safety.
Patrick Queen is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected 28th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 NFL draft.
Myles Murphy is an American professional football defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was selected by the Bengals in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
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