Will Heldt
Clemson#59 overallDraft Movement
Up 1 spot since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Will Heldt is a long and lean edge defender out of Clemson who entered the 2027 draft cycle as one of the more intriguing developmental prospects in the class after a two-school career spanning Purdue and Death Valley. At listed 6'6" and 260 pounds, Heldt carries an alluring frame with developmental room to add functional mass, and PFF noted early that his build looks more like a 3-4 defensive end than the stand-up OLB role he occupied at Purdue. The transfer to Clemson proved transformative. His explosiveness and pass-rush upside were muted in Purdue's 3-4 scheme, where Draft Wire's Scott DiBenedetto observed he was a fish out of water playing exclusively in a two-point stance. After posting a breakout 2024 season with the Boilermakers (56 tackles, five sacks), Heldt entered one of the most coveted transfer pools in the country and chose Clemson despite wide demand. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. called his arrival a big portal win for Dabo Swinney and said Heldt was playing like a first-rounder through his first two games with the Tigers in 2025, crediting his ability to threaten inside and outside, close speed, and willingness to drop into coverage. His run-defense effort is a genuine strength: AtoZ Sports noted he plays extremely hard, makes plays in pursuit, and leverages his long frame well at the point of attack. His good first step combined with length and closing speed allows him to threaten the outside track and condense the pocket. However, Heldt's profile carries real limitations as a pass rusher. As a high-cut rusher, he lacks the bend to consistently flatten the corner and win on the outside track. PFF flagged that he exposes his chest to blockers, fails to maximize his arm-length advantage, and struggles to disengage. Draft Wire was more blunt, calling his pass-rush ability disappointing at Purdue: no calling card, limited explosiveness off the ball, passive hands, and no clear rush plan. The move to a hand-on-ground alignment at Clemson was intended to unlock
Strengths
- Rare length and frame for edge position at 6'6", 260 pounds with room to add functional weight
- plays with outstanding motor and effort as a run defender in pursuit and at the point of attack
- good first step with solid closing speed to threaten the outside track
- versatility to align inside or outside and drop into coverage per Mel Kiper Jr.
- 26.5 career tackles for loss and 12.5 career sacks over 37 games across Purdue and Clemson
- solid lateral instincts and long-striding pursuit range in run defense
- high-upside developmental profile after transition from stand-up OLB to hand-down DE at Clemson
Weaknesses
- High-cut frame limits ability to bend and flatten the corner consistently
- plays too upright at times, undermining leverage and edge-setting against the run
- exposes chest to blockers and struggles to disengage from OL hands (PFF)
- fails to maximize arm-length advantage in pass rush
- limited pass-rush arsenal with no true go-to move and passive hand usage (Draft Wire)
- low pass-rush win percentage as an underclassman (PFF)
- projects more as a run-first specialist with low-volume sack ceiling rather than a premier pass rusher
NFL Comparison
Brady Smith (AtoZ Sports pro comparison; long, run-oriented EDGE with developmental pass-rush ceiling); Nic Scourton (Mel Kiper invoked this Purdue-to-power-program transfer pipeline, with Scourton going from Purdue to Texas A&M before becoming a second-round pick)
College Stats
2023 Purdue: reserve role, limited production; 2024 Purdue: 56 tackles, 5 sacks (breakout season); 2025 Clemson (partial): 39 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble; Career (37 games): 114 total tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 pass breakups
Measurables
Awards & Honors
247 Sports Composite 3-star recruit (2023 class); No. 718 overall recruit; No. 69 EDGE in 2023 class; No. 10 player in Indiana for 2023 class