Weigh-In Day at Clemson Always Brings Back the Iconic Freshman-Year Photo of 340-Pound Defensive Tackle Dexter Lawrence

Every August, as Clemson football gears up for fall camp and the energy around Death Valley starts buzzing again, there’s one unofficial tradition that never fails to make its rounds across social media: weigh-in day. It’s a day filled with anticipation, team bonding, and curiosity as fans, coaches, and players alike look to see who’s bulked up, leaned out, or just stayed right on track. But beyond the scale readings, there’s one thing that seems to resurface every single year — a classic photo that has become almost as iconic as the weigh-in itself: the freshman-year snapshot of Dexter Lawrence.

Taken back in 2016, the photo captures then-true freshman Dexter Lawrence standing shirtless, gazing directly into the camera, weighed in at a jaw-dropping 342 pounds. The image, at first glance, is almost hard to believe. Lawrence, who had just stepped foot on campus a few months earlier, looked more like a ten-year NFL veteran than an 18-year-old newcomer. His massive frame, defined musculature, and imposing presence made the image instantly go viral among Clemson fans — and frankly, across college football circles. It wasn’t just his size; it was the combination of his size and readiness that made people stop and stare. How could someone that young already look that powerful?

Weigh-in day itself is an important part of the preseason ritual for Clemson and many other programs across the country. Players file into the facility, step onto the scale, and get recorded — some smiling, some serious, all fully aware that their numbers could generate buzz in the locker room and online. At Clemson, the day is light-hearted but purposeful. It’s a checkpoint that shows how far players have come in the offseason, whether they’ve stuck to their strength and conditioning programs, and if any adjustments need to be made before full pads hit the field. But amid the dozens of weights and the coaching staff’s analysis, it’s that photo of Dexter that steals the spotlight year after year.

Dexter Lawrence wasn’t just a physical marvel — though he certainly was that — he was also one of the most heralded recruits in Clemson history. Coming out of Wake Forest, North Carolina, he was the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2016 class according to several recruiting services. When he arrived on campus, expectations were sky-high. But even then, no one could have predicted just how quickly he’d meet — and exceed — them. From day one, he was a force on the defensive line, using that 340-plus-pound frame to dominate veteran offensive linemen in practice. The photo taken on weigh-in day that year became a visual symbol of what was to come.

Lawrence went on to start as a true freshman, a rare feat at any Power Five program, let alone one with the depth and talent that Clemson had at the time. That year, he recorded 62 tackles, 8.5 for loss, and 6.5 sacks — not bad for a teenager playing against grown men. He helped anchor a defense that would carry Clemson all the way to a national championship, defeating Alabama and sealing one of the most memorable seasons in school history. But even as the years passed and new stars emerged — Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Isaiah Simmons — that photo of Dexter continued to be a fan favorite, a symbol of unrealized potential that was rapidly realized.

The beauty of the weigh-in day photo isn’t just in its visual shock value. It captures a moment in time — the very beginning of a legacy. Fans love it not just because of what Dexter looked like, but because of everything that image has come to represent. It’s a reminder of how much talent Clemson has attracted over the years, and how that talent has been developed into championship-caliber players. It’s a testament to the strength and conditioning program, which continues to turn raw athletes into refined beasts of the gridiron. And it’s a nod to the early chapters of a player who would eventually become a first-round NFL Draft pick and a star for the New York Giants.

Every year when weigh-in day rolls around, new faces step onto the scale, and the process starts anew. Fans look for the next Dexter Lawrence — the next jaw-dropping transformation, the next teenager who looks like he could bench press a pickup truck. Sometimes they find someone close. Other times, the comparisons are premature. But inevitably, someone posts that photo of Dexter. “Remember when this was a freshman?” they ask, usually with some variation of mind-blown emojis or gifs. It never gets old. In fact, it might be one of the most consistently shared Clemson football images outside of game highlights or championship celebrations.

What makes that moment even more meaningful is what Lawrence has continued to represent beyond college. He’s carved out a successful NFL career, living up to the promise that started the moment he stepped on the scale and someone clicked that camera. In a league where size and speed are the premium currency, Lawrence has become a mainstay, earning Pro Bowl recognition and becoming one of the most respected interior linemen in the game. For Clemson, that’s further proof that their system works — that the development pipeline is real. And for fans, it’s validation of the awe they felt seeing that photo for the first time all those years ago.

Coaches at Clemson don’t make a big deal about weigh-in day in the media. It’s largely a procedural day, a necessary part of the process before fall camp truly gets underway. But inside the program, it’s a fun day — players laugh, tease each other, and sometimes even place friendly bets about who’s gained or lost the most. Yet somehow, amidst all the fun, there’s always a nod to tradition. A quiet reverence for the past. That’s where the photo of Dexter fits in. It’s a time capsule. A visual reminder that greatness sometimes walks through the door in the most obvious of ways — like a 340-pound 18-year-old who looks like he’s already been through the NFL combine.

There are new stars now at Clemson, and each year brings a fresh set of expectations. The Tigers reload with top talent, and the fanbase watches closely, waiting to see who will emerge. But the legend of weigh-in day wouldn’t be complete without that one image. It’s not just about how much someone weighs. It’s about what that weight means. In Dexter’s case, it meant power, potential, and proof that some people are simply built differently. Not just in physique, but in what they’re able to do with it.

In the years since that photo was taken, weigh-in day has become a social media event at Clemson. Fans track updates, insiders leak early numbers, and players post their own reactions. But no matter what new surprises the day brings, that old image of a young Dexter Lawrence always seems to steal the show. It’s the kind of photo that belongs in a museum — or at the very least, framed in the Tigers’ football facility next to the national championship trophies. It’s unforgettable, not just because of what you see, but because of everything it led to.

So when weigh-in day comes around again — as it always does — and the new generation of Tigers lines up to step on the scale, there’s one certainty: someone, somewhere, will bring up that picture. They’ll shake their head, maybe laugh, maybe post it again. And for a moment, everyone will remember that before he was Big Dex in the NFL, before he was a college football champion, he was just a freshman at Clemson — standing shirtless in front of a camera, already looking like a legend.