James Skalski

Entered 2019 with 151 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 784 snaps over 45 games (15 starts) in his career.

2019: Entered bowl season with 90 tackles (6.0 for loss), 3.0 sacks, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 564 snaps over 13 games (all starts) … recorded eight tackles (0.5 for loss), a half-sack and a pass broken up vs. Georgia Tech … added three tackles and a fumble recovery vs. No. 12 Texas A&M … posted seven tackles including a career-high 1.5 sacks at Syracuse … led Clemson with nine tackles and shared team defensive player of the game honors vs. Charlotte … recorded seven tackles (one for loss) and a pass breakup and contributed to the game-winning stop on a two-point conversion attempt at North Carolina … contributed five tackles vs. Florida State … credited with a team-high 10 tackles including a sack at Louisville … added six tackles against both Boston College and Wofford … recorded six tackles (two for loss) and a pass breakup at NC State, sharing team defensive player of the game honors … led team with eight tackles vs. Wake Forest … added five tackles at South Carolina … led Clemson with 10 tackles vs. No. 22 Virginia in ACC Championship Game and also shared team special teams player of the game honors … contributed a half-sack among his nine tackles in the Fiesta Bowl vs. No. 2 Ohio State.

2018: Played 38 snaps over four games while redshirting, recording 10 tackles (1.0 for loss) … recorded six tackles, including one for loss, at Georgia Tech as starting linebacker Kendall Joseph missed the contest with an injury … posted two tackles against Pitt … added two tackles in National Championship Game vs. No. 1 Alabama.

2017: All-ACC Academic selection … had 37 tackles, two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and two quarterback pressures in 174 snaps over 14 games (two starts) … averaged a tackle every 6.7 snaps, third on the team (minimum 100 snaps) … had three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in seven snaps at No. 14 Louisville on Sept. 16 … had a tackle and kickoff against Wake Forest on Oct. 7 … had two tackles in 11 snaps against Georgia Tech on Oct. 28; named team co-defensive player-of-the-game … had three tackles in four snaps against Florida State on Nov. 11 … had a team-high nine tackles and tackle for loss in 36 snaps against The Citadel on Nov. 18; was his first career start; named team defensive player-of-the-game … had a team-tying-high six tackles in 36 snaps at South Carolina on Nov. 25 … had three tackles and 0.5 sacks in 32 snaps against No. 7 Miami (Fla.) in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 2 … had three tackles in 25 snaps against No. 4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

2016: Produced 14 tackles in 20 snaps in 14 games … more than half (eight) of his tackles came on special teams … appeared in first collegiate game at Auburn, registering a tackle … special teams player of the game against Boston College, he had a tackle on kickoff coverage … had four tackles, including two on special teams and one for loss, in nine active snaps against Syracuse … tallied special teams stop at Wake Forest … had two tackles on special teams in win over South Carolina … assisted on a coverage tackle in the Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State.

Before Clemson: Outstanding all-around athlete … standout on the football field and the soccer field … will leave Northgate High as the school’s most decorated athlete … named first-team all-state as a linebacker and second-team all-state as a punter … Region 4-AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year … named the MVP of the Newnan area … led the team in tackles with 170, 33 of which were tackles for loss … had 11 sacks, three caused fumbles, two caused fumbles and an interception … had a pair of defensive touchdowns as well … handled the punts and had over a 40-yard average … also handled kickoffs and was second-team all-region kicker as well … also running back at times for Northgate team that finished 12-2, most wins in school history … also a three-year starter in soccer … actually played football and soccer at the same time during the fall of 2013 … played his high school football for Tommy Walburn … selected Clemson over offers from Louisville and South Carolina … recruited by Mike Reed and Brent Venables.

Personal: Born Feb. 2, 1998 … His sister, Brenna, played softball at Georgia State … father played football for two years at Oklahoma … majoring in communication … two-time ACC Honor Roll selection.

*Courtesy Clemson Media Guide