Dexter Lawrence

Dexter Lawrence II (born November 12, 1997) is an American football nose tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). In 2015, he concluded his high school football career at Wake Forest High School in Wake Forest. He was ranked as the No. 2 recruit in college football's incoming Class of 2016.

High school career
Lawrence played his whole high school career at Wake Forest High School. During his high school career, he had 28.0 sacks, 204 tackles, 6 forced fumbles and 1 interception.

Recruiting
Lawrence was seen as the best prospect to ever come out of the state of North Carolina. He considered multiple schools, including Clemson Tigers, Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, Alabama Crimson Tide and NC State Wolfpack. In the end he signed with Clemson.

College career
In 2016, Lawrence played in 12 games for the Tigers at defensive tackle. Throughout the regular season, he recorded 55 tackles and 5 sacks. The 5 sacks he recorded in his freshman year is a Clemson record. Lawrence beat the previous record of 4 set by William Perry, Ricky Sapp, and Shaq Lawson. Lawrence was subsequently named the 2016 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lawrence was part of the Clemson team that defeated Alabama in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship by a score of 35–31. In the game, he recorded four total tackles. Dexter was ruled ineligible for the 2019 College Football Playoff after testing positive for the banned substance ostarine. After the season, Lawrence decided to forego his senior year and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.

Professional career
Lawrence injured his left leg during his attempt at the 40-yard dash during the 2019 NFL Combine.

Lawrence was selected by the New York Giants with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Giants originally acquired the selection as part of a trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns.