Clemson starters earn ACC Player of the Week honors after Virginia Tech loss

Chad Morris' offense is giving kicker Nolan Hauser plenty of kicking opportunities. That was the case again in the Clemson Tigers' 20-16 loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies when the junior from William Amos Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina, had another perfect night on the kicking tee. Fo

College Sports

SEE ALL

Ducks Wire

Where Oregon Ducks' offense ranks nationally after Week 8 loss

FSU Wire

Luke Loucks has a bigger vision for FSU basketball

AP News

No. 5 Notre Dame not making excuses about clock glitch following 1st loss of the season at BYU

What is the story about?

Chad Morris' offense is giving kicker Nolan Hauser plenty of kicking opportunities.

That was the case again in the Clemson Tigers' 20-16 loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies when the junior from William Amos Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina, had another perfect night on the kicking tee.

For the second straight week, Hauser converted all three field goal attempts in the Tigers' loss to the Hokies, which dropped them to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

Hauser made a 34-yard kick for Clemson's first points of the night early in the second quarter. He added a 49-yarder on the Tigers' first drive of the second half, and 36-yarder to end the third quarter.

For the fourth time this season, Hauser was named ACC Specialist of the Week as part

of the conference's Players of the Week honors Monday.

Hauser took home Specialist of the Week honors after a 5-for-5 night on field goal tries in the Tigers' 22-7 win over Georgia Southern in Week 2. A week later, Hauser earned the honors after finishing 3-for-3 on kicks in Clemson's 28-20 come-from-behind win over North Carolina.

He was named Specialist of the Week again after going 3-for-3 on field goal tries in the Tigers' 37-0 win over Charleston Southern in Week 7, a game in which he made a career-long 59-yard kick.

Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser (81) makes an extra point against Virginia Tech Hokies during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium Saturday, October 24, 2026.

Clemson's Will Heldt named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week

Heldt, a senior in his second season with Tom Allen's defense after transferring from Purdue in 2024, was named Defensive Lineman of the Week after registering four tackles, two sacks, and a pass defended in Clemson's loss to Virginia Tech.

According to a press release from the ACC:

"It marked the third game this season in which he has posted 2.0 sacks, tied with North Carolina's Xavier Lewis for the most in the nation."

Heldt, the ACC noted, also became the fifth player of the Dabo Swinney era at Clemson to record three or more games in a single season with 2.0 or more sacks. He joined Da’Quan Bowers in 2010, Andre Branch in 2011, Vic Beasley in 2013 and Clelin Ferrell in 2018.

Dabo Swinney incredibly critical of coaching after Clemson’s latest loss

📸 Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co https://t.co/WlQ97bnvGW pic.twitter.com/iFMSHIhuZL
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) October 26, 2026

Clemson football schedule 2026

Clemson visits Florida State (3-4, 1-3) in Week 9 of the 2026 college football season Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. Kickoff is 7 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on ACC Network.

All times Eastern.