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Replacing two NFL Draft picks and a veteran transfer isn't a challenge many defensive lines welcome.
Clemson didn't have much choice.
The Tigers watched first-round pick Peter Woods, fifth-round selection Demonte Capehart and redshirt sophomore Stephiylan Green depart after last season, leaving defensive coordinator Tom Allen and defensive tackles coach Nick Eason with one of the most inexperienced interior defensive line groups in recent memory.
That made the addition of Oklahoma transfer Markus Strong one of the Tigers' most important offseason acquisitions.
The 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior enrolled in January after spending three seasons with the Sooners, where he played for former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables (head coach) and former defensive tackles coach Todd Bates who both left Clemson in 2021.
"I definitely say, I bring more depth to the D-line, helping them with just overall football knowledge," said Strong, stating what he expects to contribute to the defensive tackles room. "I feel like coming in from being an older guy, the game has slowed down for me. So like guys like freshman Kam Cody, I can slow it down for him. Just kind of teach him what to expect if you get this formation and things like that."
Vic Burley and transfers Andy Burburija (Iowa Western CC), Kourtney Kelly (West Georgia), and Devarrick Woods (Texas State) are the only tackles on the roster with more playing experience than Strong. Behind them are graduate Caden Story, Hevin Brown-Shuler, Champ Thompson, Amare Adams, Makhi Williams-Lee, and Kam Cody, a true freshman, all looking to carve out roles this season.
Although Strong appeared in 14 games during his Oklahoma career, most of his production came in 2025. He has 10 career tackles, including four tackles for loss, and three sacks, while recording seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack in 11 games last season.
"You got Markus, who hasn't played near as much football as some of these other guys have, but coming from an elite program," Allen said about the Raiford, FL native during fall camp. "He is a very physical player. He's a way better athlete than I thought, and it's shown up already in the first four days."
Strong rewarded that praise with an impressive finish to the spring.
He recorded two sacks during the stadium scrimmage before spring break, then added another sack while starting for the Orange team in the spring game alongside Burley, who finished with 2.5 sacks.
Those performances have positioned Strong as a leading candidate to start alongside Burley when Clemson opens the season Sept. 5 against LSU in Baton Rouge.
The competition became even more important after Kelly, who had impressed coaches and teammates early, suffered a torn ACL during a spring scrimmage.
"I just think Markus Strong right now has done a really good job," Allen said. "I really like the way he used his hands, the pad level he plays with, the knock back that he gets, and his movement is good."
If the Tigers are going to return to championship contention, replacing the production of Woods and Capehart will be essential. Allen and Eason are counting on the defensive line to mature quickly, but Strong's arrival gives the unit something equally valuable: a veteran presence capable of producing on Saturdays while preparing the next generation throughout the week.
