Lawson named an ESPN ACC Defensive POTY Candidate<\/p>\n
Pos: DE \u00a0 Height: 6-3 \u00a0 Weight: 269 \u00a0 Hometown: Central, SC (Daniel HS) \u00a0Years Played: 2013 – 2014<\/p>\n
Clemson junior defensive end Shaq LawsonShaq LawsonSo. Defensive End#90 6-3, 269Central, SCView Full Profile was named on Thursday as one of ESPN’s five ACC defensive player of the year candidates for the 2015 season.
\n“The Tigers need players on the defensive line to elevate their performance with the mass departures along the unit, and most eyes are shifted toward Lawson,” ESPN said. “His snaps were limited as a sophomore as the Tigers were loaded on the defensive front, but now Lawson becomes the focal point of a group that finished seventh nationally in sacks last season. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound junior is gifted, and he’s made himself a presence in opposing backfields during his short time at Clemson.”
\nLawson had 34 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last year. He has 79 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 26 career games at Clemson.
\nThe other four ACC defensive player of the year candidates were Virginia’s Quin Blanding, Virginia Tech’s Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech’s Dadi Nicholas and Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey.<\/p>\n