Jahiem Lawson announces he's committing to Clemson where his brother became 1st round pick

The family legacy will continue at Clemson after D.W. Daniel standout defensive end Jahiem Lawson announced Friday he has committed to the Tigers.

Lawson received the offer during a Dec. 20 phone call from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. It came nine days after he was named the North team's Defensive MVP at the annual Touchstone Energy Bowl all-star game in Myrtle Beach where he posted three sacks (all in the first half) among his four tackles.

His brother, Shaq Lawson, was a star at Clemson from 2013-15 before being drafted 19th overall by Buffalo. Like his brother he's both a Daniel graduate and was named the 2011 Defensive Player of the Game at the all-star game in Myrtle Beach then known as the North-South Game.

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Also picked for the Shrine Bowl roster although the game was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, Lawson totaled 75 tackles, 25 for loss and 11 sacks in helping Daniel (14-0) win back-to-back state championships for the first time since 1992. He also forced four fumbles, blocked two kicks, had an interception and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Lawson (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) is a three-star prospect ranked 1,562nd overall, 180th as a defensive lineman and 26th in state by the 247Sports Composite.

He also had Power Five offers from Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Missouri. His first offer came from Coastal Carolina.

Shaq Lawson was a consensus All-American his final college season when he registered 59 tackles with 24 1/2 for loss and 12 1/2 sacks. In addition to the Bills, he's also played for the Dolphins and just completed his first season with the Jets.

Lawson is cousins with former Daniel and Clemson defensive linemen Jarvis Jenkins and DeShawn Williams and former Daniel and Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins. All three went on to play in the NFL with Hopkins still with the Cardinals and Williams with the Broncos.

"We always knew he had it, especially coming out of rec (league)," Williams told the Anderson Independent Mail in late November. "He was always the biggest one just like Shaq was. He just had something more than what Shaq had at that age. You can tell he is going to be something if he keeps his head straight.

"When you have a sibling like that, people put pressure on you like, ‘Are you going to do what your brother did?’ I think he is stepping up to the plate and is exceeding way more than what people thought he would. He just put in the work and time. He is becoming something phenomenal and I am just proud of him to see his growth and upbringing."

Lawson is the first defensive tackle or end in the current class after the Tigers didn't sign anyone at those positions among the 12 they brought aboard during last month's early signing period. He's the third player to commit this month after Georgia cornerback Myles Oliver and Alabama wide receiver Cole Turner announced for the Tigers on Dec. 16.

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Clemson is ranked 11th in the 247Sports Composite and second in the ACC behind North Carolina with the next national signing period beginning Feb. 2.

Check back for more on this developing story

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: D.W. Daniel's Jahiem Lawson announces commitment to Clemson football