2021 4-Star DE Cade Denhoff Commits to Clemson

Clemson added a verbal commitment from 4-star defensive end Cade Denhoff following Elite Junior Day. Denhoff is from Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Christian School) and is listed at 6’5” 225lbs. He is the #7 ranked strongside defensive end in the 2021 class per the 247Sports Composite and the #91 player overall. He has also already committed to play in the 2021 Under Armour All-American Game. Denhoff had been working with a top seven schools of Clemson, LSU, Alabama, Virginia, Ohio State, Penn State, and Nebraska prior to today’s commitment. Clemson had been the industry perceived leader in this recruitment for months following Denhoff’s two visits to campus during the 2019 football season.

Denhoff projects to be a terrorizing, speed based, pass rusher during his collegiate career. He possesses three traits every coach wants from their defensive ends: length, short area burst, and bend. He also excels at basketball and baseball due to his natural athleticism. That athleticism translated during an Opening Regional event in early 2019. Denhoff posted verified testing numbers of: a 4.87 second 40 yard dash, a 4.44 shuttle, and a 30 inch vertical leap. One can and should assume those numbers have improved since.

Denhoff’s likelihood to contribute during the early stage of his college years will be determined by his ability to add mass. His current weight of 225 pounds will need to reach somewhere closer to 240 before he can become a consistent contributor. Expect him to grow into a starter’s role in his second or third season.

Denhoff is the seventh member of Clemson’s 2021 class and is Clemson’s first commitment along the defensive line. Clemson will likely add one more defensive end this cycle and appear to be targeting Korey Foreman, the nation’s #1 overall player, early in the process.

You can watch Denhoff’s junior season highlights below: