CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers reacts after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Defending national champions lose another key piece on defense, this time to transfer

Losing a contributor always hurts.

Clemson's defensive line has been one of the many strengths of the team over the last few seasons, but Dabo Swinney and the Tigers might have some depth issues at the position this fall.

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Redshirt freshman Lasamuel Davis announced his decision to transfer from the school, according to the Post Courier.

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Davis was a four-star recruit coming out of high school, and he was the No. 31 defensive end in the country according to ESPN. He was also the No. 10 player from the state of South Carolina.

Davis redshirted last season, and he made three tackles in the Tigers' spring game. While he wasn't listed on the first or second team on the depth chart, he was expected to contribute some this fall—especially after the season-ending injury to fellow defensive end Richard Yeargin.

While Davis hasn't announced where he will transfer, he chose Clemson over other powers such as Florida, Notre Dame, Georgia, and ACC rival Florida State.

(h/t Post Courier)