Wednesday 07/25/2012
Da’Quan BowersDefensive End
· 2010
Had 179 tackles, 47 quarterback pressures, and six pass breakups in 38 games (30 starts) in his career…unanimous first-team All-American who won the Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player and the Hendricks Award as the top defensive end…finalist for the Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award…first Tiger to win more than one national award in the same year…first-team All-American by AFCA, AP, Football Writers Association, Phil Steele, Rivals.com, Scout.com, SI.com, Sporting News, and Walter Camp Foundation…national defensive player-of-the-year by Scout.com…First-Team All-ACC by ACC Sports Media Association and Phil Steele…had 15.5 sacks, most in the nation…his 26 tackles for loss were tied for most in the nation…had a streak of nine straight games involved in a sack, a Clemson record; he broke the mark set by Gaines Adams (2006); Adams and Bowers were close friends, but Adams died of a heart problem in February; Bowers wore the same jersey number (#93) that Adams wore at Clemson…his 15.5 sacks were the most by an ACC player since 1999, when former Clemson All-American Keith Adams had 16…his 15.5 sacks were the most by a Clemson defensive lineman in history and second-most overall…had 74 tackles, second-most on the team, and led the team in quarterback pressures (20)…had nine tackles, all first hits, four tackles for loss, and a sack at #15 Auburn…had eight tackles and three sacks against Maryland to earn ACC Defensive Lineman-of-the-Week honors; he was the first Tiger to record three sacks in a game since 2001…had his ninth straight game involved in a sack at Wake Forest when he had two sacks.
DeAndre McDanielSafety
· 2009-10
First-team All-America safety according to the Football Writers Association in 2009…third-team All-American by Rivals.com and Phil Steele in 2010…first Tiger defensive back to earn first-team All-America honors since Tye Hill in 2005…second-team All-American by SportsLine.com and Scout.com; he was third team by Sporting News and Rivals.com…First-Team All-ACC by the ACC Sportswriters Association, Sporting News, and Rivals.com in 2009…MVP of the defense by the coaching staff…tied for third in the nation and first in the ACC in interceptions per game in 2009…third in the ACC in interception return yards (128) in 2009…had 15 career interceptions…only player in college football with at least eight interceptions and 100 tackles in 2009…named national defensive player-of-the-week by the Bronko Nagurski Award Committee for his performance at #8 Miami (FL) in 2009 when he had six tackles and two interceptions, including one that he returned 24 yards for a touchdown…only ACC player to win ACC Defensive Back-of-the-Week honors twice in 2009; he did it for his performances against Miami (FL) and Wake Forest…first Tiger in history with eight interceptions and 100 tackles in the same year…led the team in tackles (84) and interceptions (4) in 2010…played in 53 games as a Tiger and was a two-time, First-Team All-ACC player…played in the 2011 Senior Bowl.
Thomas AustinOffensive Guard
· 2009
Third-team All-American by Sporting News in 2009…Second-Team All-ACC in 2009; he was the Second-Team All-ACC center in 2008…had 316 career knockdown blocks, including a team-best 112 as a senior in 2009 when he helped the Tigers to the ACC Atlantic Division title and a #24 final ranking in the AP poll…started each of the last 38 games and was a veteran of 39 starts in his four years…led Clemson in film grade in 13 games as a senior and led the team in knockdown blocks in all but three games…had a season-best 14.5 knockdown blocks at #13 Georgia Tech to go with a 90-percent grade…reliable blocker for C.J. Spiller for four years and had a lot to do with his success…played in the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, FL…played his final year as a graduate student…veteran of 48 games and 39 starts as a Tiger…starter at guard and center over his career…named ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the -Week five times in his career, tied for fourth in total player-of-the-week selections in Clemson history regardless of position and tied for the most among offensive linemen…2009 co-captain…played 2,592 career snaps, more than any other active Tiger, 12th-most in Clemson history, and seventh-most among offensive linemen…three-time ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week in 2008, the first Tiger offensive lineman to win it three times in a year since 1990 (Stacy Long).
C.J. SpillerRunning Back
First-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2010, the ninth pick of the draft…ACC Player-of-the-Year in 2009, Clemson’s first one since 1987 (Michael Dean Perry)…first offensive player from Clemson to be ACC Player-of-the-Year since 1978 (Steve Fuller)…MVP of the ACC Championship game against #12 Georgia Tech in 2009…unanimous first-team All-American as a kick returner, just the third unanimous All-American in Tiger history…finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting, tied for the highest finish in Clemson history (Steve Fuller, 1978) and just the second top-10 finish in school history…first-team All-American by Walter Camp as a kick returner and second team as a running back…first player in the history of the Walter Camp All-America team to be first or second-team All-American at two positions in the same year…First-Team All-ACC selection…named ACC Player-of-the-Week four times in 2009, more than any other ACC player…ACC’s career leader in all-purpose yards (7,588); he finished second in NCAA Division I history…first player in ACC history with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards; he finished with 1,212 rushing and 503 receiving…broke the ACC record for all-purpose yards per game (191); the record had stood since 1968…only player in the nation with a touchdown in every one of his team’s games in 2009 (14 in a row)…went over 7,000 career all-purpose yards when he went 88 yards for a score with the opening kickoff at South Carolina; that play was his seventh career kickoff return for a score, an all-time NCAA record…joined Reggie Bush as the only players in college football history with 3,000 rushing yards, 1,500 yards in kickoff returns, 1000 receiving yards, and 500 yards in punt returns…finished with eight kick returns for touchdowns in his career, tied for the NCAA record…set 32 Tiger records in various categories, including the record for all-purpose yards, returns for touchdowns, and many others…third in Clemson history in career rushing…just the sixth player in ACC history with 3,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a career…had 21 career touchdowns of 50 yards or more…graduated in three-and-a-half years on December 17, 2009; he received a standing ovation from the Clemson Board of Trustees when he crossed the stage, the first time that had happened for a student-athlete…earned First-Team Academic All-ACC honors in 2008 when he made the Dean’s List…first Clemson running back to earn First-Team Academic All-ACC and First-Team All-ACC honors on the field in same year in school history…three-time All-American in track…first-team strength All-American in 2008…had a career best time of 6.58 in the 60m and 10.22 in the 100m.Barry RichardsonOffensive Tackle
· 2007
First-team All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com…second-team All-American by Walter Camp Foundation…First-Team All-ACC selection each of the last two years; he was the first Tiger offensive tackle to be a first-team pick since Jim Bundren (1996,97)…chosen to play in the Senior Bowl…graduated with a degree in health science in December of 2007, quite an accomplishment considering he was at Clemson just three-and-a-half years…two-time ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week in 2007, as he received the honor at Maryland and Duke; he had three selections in his career; he also won the award as a sophomore at N.C. State…Clemson’s highest-graded offensive lineman eight times in 2007, including five consecutive games…led the offensive line in snaps five times…had a season-high nine knockdown blocks against Furman and 8.5 knockdowns at both South Carolina and Duke…had eight knockdowns in the win at Maryland when he had three intimidation blocks; that was the most intimidation blocks by a Tiger lineman in a game in 2007…had his best game at Maryland when he graded 93 percent with eight knockdowns in 86 snaps…graded at least 89 percent in four consecutive games (Central Michigan through Wake Forest games); Clemson won all four games…had 8.5 knockdown blocks and a 91-percent grade at Duke; he was named ACC Lineman-of-the-Week for that performance…one of the more reliable linemen in Clemson history, as he played 49 consecutive games and started 44 in a row; the start total tied for eighth-most in school history and second-most in history by an offensive tackle…played 890 snaps in 2007…played 2,778 career snaps.
Chris McDuffieOffensive Guard
Second-team All-American according to Sporting News…honorable mention All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com and Pro Football Weekly…First-Team All-ACC selection by AP/ACSMA, CollegeFootballNews.com, and Rivals.com…his honors were quite an accomplishment considering 2007 was his first year as a full-time starter…selected for the East-West Shrine Game…fifth-year senior who played 46 career games with 16 career starts…played 619 snaps in 2007 and 1,179 snaps in his career…led Clemson in knockdown blocks in each of the first four games; he had 9.5 in the win over #19 Florida State…had a career-high 14 knockdown blocks in the win over Furman when he graded 88 percent in 42 snaps; he was Clemson’s top offensive lineman in that game…led the team in knockdown blocks (11.5) at N.C. State; he played a team-high 79 snaps…back in the starting lineup against Wake Forest when he played 52 snaps and graded 82 percent.
Nathan BennettOffensive Guard
· 2006
AP Third-Team All-American as a senior in 2006…First-Team All-ACC selection at offensive guard; he led the team in knockdown blocks (100) and intimidation blocks (22)…allowed just one sack in 2006, a big reason Clemson was fifth in the nation in that category…one of the veterans of the Clemson offensive line; he played 47 games with 38 career starts…played 2,248 career snaps…had 100 knockdown blocks in 2006 and 263.5 in his career…a big reason Clemson was fifth in the nation in rushing yards, and the combination of James Davis and C.J. Spiller was third in the nation as a rushing duo…ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week in Clemson’s win over #13 Georgia Tech when he had 10 knockdown blocks and graded a career-high-tying 90 percent in 52 plays…came on strong at the end of 2006; he was Clemson’s highest-rated offensive lineman in six of the last seven games…averaged an 86.7-percent film grade and 8.2 knockdown blocks per game in the last seven games of 2006…led Clemson in knockdown blocks in five of the last six games…led Clemson in film grade in eight of the 13 games…started eight of the 12 games in 2005, including the victory over Colorado in the Champs Sports Bowl when he had eight knockdown blocks…second on the team in knockdowns in 2005 with 74.5…had 13 intimidation blocks to tie for the team lead in 2005…had eight knockdowns in the win over #17 Texas A&M in 2005…had 9.5 knockdowns in the win over #16 Florida State in 2005…started 10 of the 11 games in 2004 and played 510 snaps…started the first six games as a freshman in 2003.
Gaines Adams Defensive End
Second unanimous All-American in Clemson history, joining Terry Kinard…named first-team All-American by Football Writers, Associated Press, Football Coaches, Walter Camp Foundation andThe Sporting News, the five major services in 2006…first-round draft choice in 2007…received his degree from Clemson in December of 2006, joining a small group of college football players in 2006 who were first team All-Americans, college graduates and first round draft choices…tied Clemson record for sacks in a career with 28, the same number Michael Dean Perry had between 1984-87…ACC Defensive Player of the Year and second in the voting for ACC Player of the Year behind Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson…one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given to the top defensive player in college football…one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award, the honor given to the top defensive end in college football…one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award…also a preseason candidate for the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award…also named first-team All-American by Rivals.com, CBS Sportline andSports Illustrated…the most decorated Clemson defensive player since Terry Kinard in 1982…first-team All-ACC, he was the top vote-getter among defensive players and second among all players behind Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech, who was unanimous…provided Clemson with perhaps the most important play of the year, he had a 66-yard fumble return on a botched field goal attempt by Wake Forest on the first play of the fourth quarter of the October 7 game…Clemson trailed 17-3 entering that play, the first snap of the fourth quarter…Adams return for a score was named the Pontiac Game Changing Play of the Week for all of college football and was one of four finalists for the play of the year…had 12.5 quarterback sacks, tops in the ACC, third in the nation and tied for the second most in a single season in Clemson history…set Clemson record for sacks by a senior…third in the ACC in tackles for loss with 17.5 has 63 tackles for the 2006 season…had a Clemson record streak of eight consecutive games with at least one sack, the previous record was just five consecutive games held by Keith Adams, Leroy Hill and Chester McGlockton…second in Clemson history among defensive linemen in passes broken up with 21…ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week twice as a senior, for his performance at Florida State and his performance at Wake Forest…a key to the win over Florida State when he had 2.5 sacks and seven total tackles…finished his career with two sack performance against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl…started each of the last 25 games of his career…played in 48 games overall and had 26 career starts…had 56 tackles as a junior in 12 games and 63 tackles as a senior in 13 games…Clemson’s career leader in quarterback pressures with 68 over his career, he had 29 in 2005 and 27 as a senior…caused five fumbles over the last two seasons.
Tye Hill Cornerback
· 2005
First-team All-America cornerback according to Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News, ESPN.com, and Rivals.com…First-Team All-ACC in 2005…first-round draft choice of the Saint Louis Rams, the #15 selection of the entire draft…earned his degree from Clemson in December of 2005…one of seven Division I players to make first-team All-American, be a first round draft choice, and earn a degree in the 2005-06 academic year…first Tiger first-round draft choice since Rod Gardner in the 2001 draft…Clemson’s 21st first-round draft choice in history…helped Clemson’s defense to a top-25 finish as a starter in 2003 and 2005…three-year starter overall; he was a reserve running back in 2002; had 225 yards rushing and a 5.4 average…tied for the team lead in interceptions (3) in 2005; he had 10 passes defended overall…a major reason Clemson was in the top 25 in six different areas in 2005…had 54 tackles as a senior, including a career-high five tackles for loss…had a career-high 11 tackles, including three tackles for loss, at Wake Forest in 2005…had 21 pass breakups in 2004 as a junior, establishing a school record…tied the record for passes defended in a season (21)…had 35 pass breakups and 40 passes defended for his career to finish in the top 10 in both areas…had four passes defended at Miami (FL) in 2004, leading Clemson to an overtime win over the #10 Hurricanes…played 49 games in his career; he never missed a game in his four years…made 34 starts in the secondary.
Justin Miller Kick Returner
· 2004
Set the NCAA single-game record for kickoff return yards with 282 at Florida State in 2004; also had two kickoff returns for scores in that game to set a Clemson record and tie an NCAA record…three-year starter at cornerback is one of the greatest kick returners in Clemson history…among the Final 12 for the Thorpe Award in 2004…concluded his career ranked third in Clemson history in career interceptions (13,) trailing only College Football Hall of Fame inductee Terry Kinard, who had 17 between 1978-82, and Fred Knoebel, who had 15 (1950-52)…concluded his career with a 30.7-yard kickoff return average, the best in ACC history and fourth best in NCAA history…finished his career with 50 kickoff returns for 1,534 yards, and that 30.7 average is the best in NCAA history given a minimum of 50 returns…ranked #14 in ACC history in total kickoff return yards (1,534); ranked second in Clemson history in that category behind former teammate Derrick Hamilton; he was just 18 yards short of Hamilton’s total…led the nation in kickoff returns in 2004 with 33.1-yard average on 20 returns…had a 13.0-yard average in punt returns to rank in the top 25 in the nation; he also had a punt return for a score in the season opener against Wake Forest; that gave him a Clemson record three kick returns for touchdowns in the same season and a career standard of five (three kickoff and two punt)…one of only two players in Clemson history to return both a kickoff and punt for a touchdown (Bobby Gage is the other)…had seven tackles in the 2003 win over #3 Florida State, seven tackles and a three pass breakups against #6 Tennessee in a Peach Bowl win, and 148 return yards in an overtime win over #10 Miami (FL) in 2004…named toSports Illustrated’s All-Bowl team for his performance against Tennessee in the 2004 Peach Bowl…second-round draft choice of the New York Jets.
Leroy Hill Linebacker
Concluded his career as one of the many former linebacker greats to come through Clemson…two-time, First-Team All-ACC selection over the course of his career…ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Year as a senior in 2004…first-team All-American by Rivals.com and third-team All-American by AP…played in the Senior Bowl for the South team and was named the squad’s Defensive MVP…finished his career with 48 tackles for loss and 16 sacks…at the conclusion of his career, he ranked 14th in Clemson history in sacks, tied for fifth with 48 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, and 15th with 311 total tackles, 251 of which came in his final two seasons as a Tiger…concluded his career by notching at least one tackle for loss in 22 of his final 24 games…had an incredible performance against Georgia Tech in 2004, totaling 14 tackles, three for loss, and two sacks; named ABC’s Chevrolet Player-of-the-Game for that performance; also received ACC Defensive Lineman-of-the-Week honors for that game…had 13 tackles, three for loss, and a sack at Florida State as a senior…had at least one sack in five straight games in 2004 to tie a Clemson record, including one apiece versus Utah State, N.C. State, and Maryland…led the team in tackles in 2003, including 27 behind the line of scrimmage…ranked second in the nation in 2003 in tackles for loss per game and fifth in solo tackles per game…his 27 tackles for loss tied for the second-best single-season mark in Clemson history; William Perry (1984) and Rob Bodine (1991) also had 27 in one season for Clemson, while Keith Adams has the record (35)…led the ACC in tackles for loss per game…led Clemson with 12 tackles, including two sacks, in the Peach Bowl victory over #6 Tennessee; earned Defensive MVP honors for that performance…led the team in special teams tackles with 21 in 2002…third-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks.
Brian Mance Cornerback
· 2002
Fourth-team All-American by The Sporting News in 2002…First-Team All-ACC by that publication…Second-Team All-ACC by the ACC Sportswriters Association…had at least one pass defensed in each of the last 11 games, he was third in the ACC in that category (17)…moved into the top three in Clemson history in career interceptions (12), including one in his home finale against South Carolina…ranked 15th in the nation in interceptions per game, he was second in the ACC behind teammate Justin Miller…had over 1,000 yards in kick returns in his career…might have played his best all-around game as a senior in the win over Wake Forest…had six tackles, an interception, and a game-saving caused fumble; with Wake Forest driving for a tying touchdown with under a minute left, he jarred the ball loose from a Demon Deacon running back and the ball rolled out of the back of the endzone for a touchback; named ACC Defensive Back-of-the-Week for that game…had career-high 60 tackles, career-high six interceptions, and career-high 17 passes defensed as a senior…ranked in the top 30 in the nation in punt returns and kickoff returns in 2001; ranked 27th in punt returns (13.2) and 30th in kickoff returns (24.5)…tied the Clemson single-game record for takeaways (3) in the win over Missouri in 2000, he had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in that Clemson victory…also had an 88-yard return against Georgia Tech that year…recipient of Clemson Special Teams Award on defense for the 2000 season…his 105 yards in punt returns against Georgia Tech marked just the seventh 100-yard punt return game in Clemson history, and first since Tony Horne had 106 against UTEP in 1997…named to ACC Academic Honor Roll in 1999-00.
Kyle YoungCenter
· 2000
Among the most decorated players in Clemson history in any sport…All-American on the field and off in both 2000 and 2001, joining PGA Tour professional Jonathan Byrd as the only athletes in Clemson history to be named All-American on the field and in the classroom in the same year in two different seasons…third-team All-American in 2001 by The Sporting News and Football News…a first-team Academic All-American for the third year in a row…he became just the second offensive lineman in college football history to do that and just second ACC player…only other offensive lineman to do it was Jim Hansen at Colorado (1990-92) and the only other ACC player was Mike Diminick at Duke (1986-88)…winner of National Football Foundation Scholarship, first Tiger to do that since 1978 (Steve Fuller)…honored in New York as one of just 18 Division I players…also winner of Jim Tatum Award as outstanding scholar athlete football player in the ACC this year…winner of a Weaver-James-Corrigan Scholarship from the Atlantic Coast Conference for excellence on and off the field…had a Clemson record 168 knockdown blocks in 2001, he broke his own Clemson record for knockdown blocks in a season…that included 18 in the bowl win over Louisiana Tech when he helped the Tigers to 49 points and 548 yards of total offense…named toSports Illustrated’s All-Bowl team for 2001…had average grade of 90.5 percent for the season, best on the team…one of top 24 candidates for the Outland Trophy at mid-season…also finalist for the Dave Rimington Award, one of five for that honor…prime reason Clemson averaged 432 yards a game of total offense, second best average in Clemson history…started every game at center his final three years and 40 in a row over four years…tied Clemson record for starts by a center in a career with 36, he started four at guard as a freshman…a big reason Woodrow Dantzler broke 53 Clemson records in his career…three-time first-team All-ACC by Football News…played over 3,000 snaps in his Clemson career…had record tying 21 knockdown blocks against N.C. State in his 100 plays of participation…had just six missed assignments in 845 plays by coach’s grading system, fewest among all starters on the Clemson team…a big reason Clemson averaged a school record 446 yards per game and set school records for touchdowns and total points scored in 2000…earned degree from Clemson in secondary education with minor in economics in May of 2001, he was a graduate student during the 2001 season…had 3.98 GPA in his undergraduate career, he made just one B and the rest of his courses were A…now an Administrative Assistant on the Clemson Athletic Department staff.
Robert CarswellFree Safety
Third-team All-American safety according to Associated Press, CollegeFootballNews.com, and The Sporting News in 2000…one of 12 semifinalists for the Thorpe Award in 2000, the only ACC player chosen for the final 12…First-Team All-ACC in 1999 and 2000…played in the Senior Bowl after his senior season…set Clemson record for tackles by a defensive back (374), seventh overall in Clemson history…ranked 10th in the nation in interceptions (6) as a junior…had eight career interceptions and three of them were on passes thrown by Michael Vick…Playboy All-American in the preseason for 2000…named to AFCA Goodworks team in 1999, the first Clemson player named to that team that honors players for their community service…made 41 consecutive starts to end his career, he played in 47 consecutive games…had career-high 16 tackles against Virginia Tech in 1999…started in three bowl games…ranked in the top 10 in the nation in tackles by defensive backs each of his last three years…set Clemson record for tackles (129) in a season by a defensive back in 1999…played with San Diego in 2001,02.
Rod GardnerWide Receiver
First-team All-American by Gannett News Service and College & Pro Football Weekly…one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award in 2000…first-round draft choice of the Washington Redskins, the15th selection of the entire draft…left Clemson as the school’s all-time leader in total receptions with 166, he set the record with seven for 94 yards against Virginia Tech in the 2001 Gator Bowl…ranked third in career reception yardage with 2,498 and fifth in total touchdown receptions with 13…only Clemson receiver in history with a 1000-yard receiving season, he actually had two…set Clemson record with 80 catches for 1,084 yards in 1999…had at least two catches in his last 28 games, at least one in his last 30 games…had nine 100-yard receiving games in his career to set a school record…tied Clemson single-game record with 11 catches against Marshall in 1999…tied Clemson single game record for touchdown receptions with three against North Carolina in 2000…ranked 23rd in the nation in reception yards per game in 2000…led the ACC in total receptions in 1999…second-team All-ACC as a junior and a senior…set nine records at Clemson…will always be remembered for his 50-yard reception with 10 seconds left that set up game-winning field goal against South Carolina in his final home game…also had game deciding touchdown catch at South Carolina in 1999…named IPTAY Athlete-of-the-Year for 2000-01…starting wide receiver for the Washington Redskins from 2001-04…now with the Carolina Panthers.
Keith AdamsLinebacker
· 1999-2000
Two-time first-team All-American…first-team selection by The Sporting News in 1999 and 2000…second-team AP All-American in 1999 and a first-team selection in 2000…one of three national finalists for the Butkus Award in 2000, he was one of five finalists for the National Defensive Player-of-the-Year by Football News…one of three national finalists for the Bednarik Award in 2000…also first-team All-American by Walter Camp, Football News and Gannett News Service in 2000…ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 1999, he was runnerup for the honor as a senior…set 14 Clemson records, including sacks in a game and a season, tackles for loss in a game and a season…led the nation in tackles (186) and tackles for loss (35) in 1999…first-team All-ACC as a sophomore and junior…third in Clemson history in career sacks (54), he trailed only the Perry Brothers when his career ended…entered the NFL draft after his junior year and was a seventh-round pick of the Titans…fourth sophomore in Clemson history to earn All-America honors when he was named in 1999…five-time ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Week in 1999, most honors ever for a Tiger gridder…won Banks McFadden Award in 1999 as top college player in the state of South Carolina…first-team All-ACC as a sophomore and junior…one of five finalists for National Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 1999 and 2000…had Clemson record 27 tackles in one game against South Carolina in 1999…had six tackles for loss and four sacks against Duke that same year…ended his career sixth in school history in tackles (379), including 54 tackles for loss and 23 sacks…played the 2001 season with the Cowboys then with the Eagles from 2002-04…played in the 2005 Super Bowl with the Eagles.
Antwan EdwardsDefensive Back
· 1998
First-team All-American by Football Digest for 1998 season…third-team choice by Football News and Associated Press…first-team All-ACC cornerback…first-round draft pick (25th overall) of the Packers in 1999…ranked 10th in the nation in kickoff returns with 26.9 average in 1998…semi-finalist for the Thorpe Award, which is given to the top defensive back in the nation…finished his career ranked third in Clemson history in career passes broken up with 35…had 14 his senior year to lead the club and rank second in the ACC…first player in Clemson history to have two 80-yard plays in the same game, he had 93-yard fumble return for a touchdown and 85-yard kickoff return at Virginia…Clemson’s career leader in return yards on takeaways, he had 10 takeaways in his career for 299 yards…chosen to play in the 1999 Senior Bowl and the 1999 East-West game…second-team All-ACC in 1997…had two interceptions, including one he returned 42 yards for a score at South Carolina in 1997…now with the New England Patriots.
Jim BundrenOffensive Tackle
· 1997
Second-team All-America by Football News as a senior, he was a third-team choice by Sporting News and Associated Press…first-team academic All-ACC in 1996 and 1997…joined Steve Fuller as only two football players in Clemson history named first team All-ACC on the field and in the classroom in consecutive years…earned degree from Clemson in December, 1997…started all 47 games of his career at offensive tackle, first Clemson tackle in history to do that…holds Clemson record for most total starts by a Clemson offensive tackle in addition to his consecutive streak…graded 80 percent for every game in 1997…two-time ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week in 1997…a four-time ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week…started three bowl games in his career…a prime reason Raymond Priester became Clemson’s career rushing leader during the same era, 1994-97…Clemson finished in top two in the ACC in rushing each of his last three years…came to Clemson from Wilmington, DE, he was born in Pontiac, MI…seventh-round draft choice of the Dolphins in 1997…played 1999 season with the Browns…starting center with the Browns in 2000.
Anthony SimmonsInside Linebacker
· 1995-96-97
Just the second ACC player in history to be named an AP All-American in three different years (Clemson’s William Perry is the other)…left Clemson after junior year with a chance to become just the second four-time AP All-American in college football history…earned third-team All-America honors as a freshman and sophomore, first-team as a junior…first-team AP All-American in 1997, Clemson’s first defensive player named to first team since 1982…finished his career second in Tiger history in career tackles (486)…led the ACC in tackles in 1996,97…one of 10 semi-finalists for the 1997 Butkus Award…First-Team All-ACC for three straight years, joining Levon Kirkland and William Perry as three-time selections from Clemson…had 52 tackles for loss in his career, third best in Tiger history…had 25 tackles for loss in 1997 to lead the ACC…Clemson’s top tackler in 28 of his 36 games…had streak of 17 straight games with at least one tackle for loss to end his career, a Clemson record…Playboy All-American for 1997…two-time recipient of Banks McFadden Award as top college player in South Carolina…set Clemson single-season tackle record (178) in 1996…ACC Rookie-of-the-Year in 1995…National Freshman-of-the-Year by UPI in 1995, first defensive player in history of the award…four-time ACC Rookie-of-the-Week, two-time ACC Player-of-the-Week that year…first-round draft choice, the #15 selection of the entire draft, by the Seahawks in 1997…leading tackler for Seattle in 2000,01…named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002.
Brian DawkinsStrong Safety
· 1995
Second-team All-American by AP and The Sporting News in 1995…First-Team All-ACC in 1995, second-team in 1993, and 1994…ranked eighth in the nation in interceptions in 1995 with six…set a Clemson record for interceptions in a quarter against Duke with three in 1995…named Sports Illustrated’s National Defensive-Player-of-the-Week for that performance against the Blue Devils…tied for second in Clemson history in career takeaways with 15…finished his career third in Clemson history in career tackles by a defensive back…second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996 draft…NFL All-Rookie selection in 1996…chosen to the NFL Pro Bowl at the conclusion of the 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2004 seasons…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in April, 1996.
Nelson WelchPlacekicker
· 1992
Third-team AP All-America as a sophomore, just the second sophomore in Clemson history to be chosen to an AP All-America team…first-or second-team All-ACC all four years he played for Clemson, first Tiger to do that…held 14 Clemson records when he graduated, including most field goals in a career (72)…that total was also an ACC record…Clemson’s career scoring leader (301) until the 2003 season…ranked in the top 15 in the nation in field goals per game all four years; 13th as a senior, 14th as a junior, second as a sophomore, and fourth as a freshman…had five field goals in a game three times, only Tiger in history to kick five field goals in a game…had a Tiger record 25 multiple field goal games…kicked game-winning field goal at Virginia in 1992 with 52 seconds left, giving Clemson a 29-28 win, culminating a 28-point comeback…signed free-agent contract with the Jaguars (1995)…now a sales representative with Adidas.
Stacy SeegarsOffensive Guard
· 1992-93
One of the most decorated linemen in Tiger history, he was a first-team All-America choice by AP, Walter Camp, Scripps-Howard, and Football News in 1993 and was a second-team choice of AP and UPI in 1992…selected to the 1993 Academic All-ACC football squad…the fourth Tiger to reach 200 knockdown blocks in his career, he had 213…averaged five knockdowns per game for his career…two-time All-ACC…tied the Tiger single-season record for knockdown blocks (103) in 1992.
Ed McDanielLinebacker
· 1991
A first-team All-American by College and Pro Football Weekly and an honorable mention choice by Football News…a third-team AP All-American and a first-team All-ACC choice by AP/ACSWA…the number-one tackler on the defense that led the nation in rushing defense in 1991, he had 114 tackles to his credit for the season…led the Tigers in tackles three of the four years he played, including 1990 when Clemson won the national title in total defense, 1991 when Clemson won the national rushing defense crown and 1988 when the Tigers also ranked in the top five nationally in total defense…ranks fourth in Clemson history in total tackles with 389…went over the century mark in tackles three times…one of four semifinalists for the 1991 Butkus Award…fifth-round draft pick of the Vikings in 1992…starting linebacker with the Vikings from 1994-01…named to the Pro Bowl in 1998.
Levon KirklandOutside Linebacker
· 1990-91
Semifinalist for 1991 Lombardi Award…first-team All-American that season by Kodak/AFCA, Sporting News, Scripps Howard and Walter Camp and a second-team choice by UPI and Football News…named a second-team AP and UPI All-American in 1990 as a junior…only underclassman to be a finalist for the 1990 Butkus Award…ranked sixth in Clemson history in career sacks with 19 and eighth in career tackles for loss with 40…tied with William Perry for second in fumble recoveries with seven…third on Clemson’s #1-ranked rushing defense in tackles (67) in 1991…standout on Clemson’s number-one ranked total defense in 1990…earned MVP honors in the 1989 Mazda Gator Bowl with nine tackles, a sack and three quarterback pressures…second-round draft pick of the Steelers in 1992…All-Pro in 1996,97…highest paid linebacker in the NFL in 1999…played with the Eagles in 2002…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996…ranked as Clemson’s #8 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…inducted into Clemson Hall of Fame in 2001.
Jeb FleschOffensive Guard
A first-team All-American by AP, UPI, Football News, and Walter Camp, and a first-team All-ACC choice…the leader of the offensive line that led the Tigers to the ACC title in total offense in 1991…team leader in knockdown blocks during the 1991 regular season with 72, he led the team in that category in six different games…had 262 knockdown blocks for his career, just 10 shy of tying the Clemson record…in for 2,630 plays for his career…started 45 straight games, he ended his career ranked second in Clemson history in career starts by an offensive lineman and second in starts by any player regardless of position…signed a free-agent contract with the Seahawks in 1992.
Rob BodineMiddle Guard
A first-team All-America choice in 1991 by the Football Writers, a second-team selection by AP, Sporting News, and College & Pro Football Weekly…an honorable mention All-American byUPI and Football News…First-Team All-ACC by AP/ACSWA in 1991 for the second straight year…led the nation in tackles for loss (27) as a senior, tying the school record…ranked fourth in school history for career tackles for loss (48)…ranked 20th in Tiger history in tackles…anchored the defensive line on the unit that led the nation in rushing defense in 1991…accomplished all of this in three years; he played at North Dakota as a freshman…only walk-on non-kicker in Tiger history to be a first-team All-American.
Chris GardockiPlacekicker
· 1989-90
Second-team as a junior and a third-team choice as a sophomore place-kicker…an honorable mention choice at punter as well by UPI as a freshman, sophomore, and junior…ranked fourth in punting and tied for fourth in placekicking in the nation as a junior…second player in the NCAA history to finish in the Top 10 in both categories in the same season, the first to do it twice…tied ACC record for longest field goal with a 57-yarder against Appalachian State in 1990…had a pair of four-field-goal games in 1990…recorded 72 consecutive PATs to set Clemson record, he never missed one in his Clemson career…had 20 multiple field goal games in his Clemson career…tied Obed Ariri’s career record for total field goals with 63…third-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1991, he left Clemson after his junior year…All-Pro choice with Colts in 1996…now with the Cleveland Browns…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in April, 1996…ranked as Clemson’s #19 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…inducted into Clemson Hall of Fame in 2001.
Stacy LongOffensive Tackle
Consensus first-team All-American as a senior and First-Team Sporting News All-American as a junior…Outland Trophy finalist in 1990, the second Tiger so honored…First-Team All-ACC twice…had 141 career knockdown blocks, a record for an offensive tackle…two-time ACC Player-of-the-Week in 1990 and a six-time choice in his career, more than any other Tiger…Clemson won 40 games from 1987-90, fourth-most in the nation…11th-round draft pick of the Bears…named to Clemson’s Centennial team (1996)…will be inducted into Clemson Hall of Fame in 2004.
Donnell WoolfordCornerback
· 1987-88
Consensus first-team All-America cornerback, along with Kinard the only Clemson defensive backs to make All-American for two seasons…first player in Clemson history to record double figures in PBUs in three different seasons…Clemson’s career leader in PBUs with 44…finalist for the Thorpe Award in 1988…first-team All-ACC for two years, top votegetter on defense in 1988…selected for both the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Hula Bowl his senior season…a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears, he was the 11th pick of the draft overall…he played in the 1994 Pro Bowl…had 33 NFL interceptions in the decade of the 1990s, ninth best in the NFL…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996…ranked as Clemson’s #12 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999.
Michael Dean PerryDefensive Tackle
· 1987
First-team All-American…ACC Player-of-the-Year as a senior…set the ACC record for career tackles for loss (61) and career sacks (28), both were previously held by his brother William…tied for single-season sack record at 10…tied the Clemson single game tackle-for-loss mark against N.C. State in 1987 with five for 34 yards…finalist (one of three) for Outland Trophy in 1987…played in both the Hula and Japan Bowls…All-ACC in 1986 and 1987…a second-round pick of the Browns in 1988 draft, he has already been All-Pro four times and has played in six Pro Bowls…inducted into Clemson Hall Of Fame in 2000…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996…ranked as Clemson’s #10 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2000…named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002.
David TreadwellPlacekicker
Consensus first-team All-America place-kicker…walked on to Clemson team and was red-shirted, then a reserve behind Donald Igwebuike in 1984…leading votegetter on All-ACC Sportswriters’ first team, receiving all but one of the votes in 1987…fifth in the nation with 1.8 field goals per game…will always be remembered for beating Georgia with field goals inside the last 10 seconds in 1986 and 1987…six times in his career he won or tied games with field goals inside the last three minutes of the fourth quarter…participated in the Hula Bowl, kicking three field goals and an extra point…with the Denver Broncos, he played in the Pro Bowl after the 1989 season as a rookie…All-Rookie team selection in 1989…chosen to Clemson Hall of Fame in 1997…also played with New York Giants in 1993 and 1994…now a lawyer in Denver, CO.
John PhillipsOffensive Guard
· 1986-87
First-team All-American as a junior who was second-team All-American as a senior…made All-ACC team two consecutive years…captured Jacobs Blocking Trophy for South Carolina two years in a row…had single-season record of 103 knockdown blocks as a junior, he concluded his career with 245 knockdown blocks, third in Clemson history…still only Tiger with a pair of 100-knockdown block seasons, he had 100 in 1986 and 103 in 1987…started 32 games and played in 47 for his career…co-captain of Clemson’s 1987 team with Michael Dean Perry…graduate assistant coach at Clemson for 1990 and 1991…inducted into Clemson Hall Of Fame in Fall of 1999.
Terrence FlaglerTailback
· 1986
First-team All-American by the Football Writers Association and runnerup in ACC Player-of-the-Year voting in 1986…finished 13th in the nation in rushing, but third in yards-per-carry among players with at least 800 yards…third Clemson player to score four touchdowns in a single game…still holds Clemson single game record for all-purpose running with 274 yards at Wake Forest in 1986…also still holds Clemson rushing record for yards gained in a three-game, five-game, six-game and seven-game series…set Clemson regular season record for yards per game with 106.9 figure in 1986…drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round (25th pick) in 1987 draft…earned two Super Bowl Championship rings with the 49ers…played spring of 2000 for Jacksonville in the Arena Football League.
Steve ReeseOffensive Guard
· 1985
Second-team All-American by Football News who was an honorable mention choice as a junior…first-team All-ACC…in on 776 plays for a season average of over 70 plays per game, the most by a Clemson player at that time…came on strong at the end of his senior season with 54 knockdown blocks in the last five games of the season…major reason Clemson was in the top 10 in the nation in rushing during the 1985 season.
Dale HatcherPunter
· 1984
Second-team All-American as a senior, honorable mention his junior year…the only player in Clemson history to average over 40 yards a punt in four seasons…only player to lead Clemson in punting for four straight years…Clemson’s #2 career punting average leader with 42.9 yards…#1 on the career list in net punting, 40.7 yards per punt…finished 20th in the nation in punting his senior year…holds school record for most punts over 50 yards (44) and most punts inside the 20-yard line (69)…19th in the nation in punting as a freshman, seventh as a junior and 20th as a senior…a third-round pick of the LA Rams in the 1985 draft, he was the 77th player chosen…led the NFL in net punting in 1985, his rookie season…played in the Pro Bowl as a rookie and was an All-Pro selection…played six years with the Rams and one with Miami…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996.
Donald IgwebuikePlacekicker
Third-team AP All-American who booted the longest field goal in the ACC in each of his last three seasons…led the nation and the ACC in field goal percentage with a .941 senior season mark…came to Clemson to play soccer, he played in two NCAA tournaments, 1980 and 1981…tied for 13th in the nation as a senior in kick-scoring with an 8.1 average…a perfect 43-43 on PATs in his career and made 32-43 field goals…only Tiger to boot at least one 50-yard field goal in four straight seasons…had five career field goals of 50 or more yards to set Clemson record…in his last three seasons he was 107-180 on non-returnable kickoffs…a 10th-round pick of the Tampa Bay Bucs after the 1984 season.
William PerryMiddle Guard
· 1982-84
First three-time All-American at Clemson…13th ACC player named two-time consensus All-American…first among Division I players in tackles for loss as a senior with 2.45 per game…only fourth defensive player to be named All-ACC player for three years…first Clemson player to be a three-time selection to the All-ACC team…Clemson’s all-time leader in sacks (25) until his brother (Michael Dean) broke the record three years later…tied for single-season sack record (10)…all-time ACC leader in tackles for loss (60) in his career until Michael Dean broke it by one in 1987…first Clemson down-lineman to lead the team in tackles…Lombardi Award finalist in 1984…nicknamed “Refrigerator”…first-round draft pick of the Bears…won National Championship as rookie with Clemson in 1981 and Super Bowl Championship as rookie with the Bears (1985)…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996…ranked as Clemson’s #7 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2002…named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002…named one of the 50 greatest male athletes in ACC history in 2003.
James FarrOffensive Guard
· 1983
Third-team AP All-American in 1983…first-team All-ACC…started 34 consecutive games, including every game in 1983, and 35 total for his career…major reason Clemson was 12th in the nation in rushing and 10th in scoring in 1983…twice named the ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week…selected to play in the Blue-Gray Game and the East-West Shrine Game…1983 recipient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the ACC…played with the Washington Federals of the USFL in 1984 and with the Orlando Renegades in 1985.
James RobinsonDefensive Tackle
Second-team All-American by the Sporting News in 1983…has one of the top tackles for loss marks (25) in Clemson history…All-ACC as a senior, he had 83 tackles to match his uniform number…major reason Clemson finished 9-1-1 in 1982 and 1983…played in 1983 Blue-Gray Game…signed with Los Angeles of the USFL in 1984…played with the Express in 1984 and 1985, but suffered a career-ending knee injury.
Johnny RembertLinebacker
· 1982
Third-team AP All-American…finished senior season as the second leading tackler behind Terry Kinard…named to All-ACC team in 1982…had eight career interceptions, the highest total ever by a linebacker, and he only played two years at Clemson…ranked eighth in the nation in interceptions with 0.6 a game in 1982, that is highest ranking ever by a Clemson linebacker…selected to Blue-Gray game and Senior Bowl, but withdrew due to injury…Junior College All-American from Cowley College…played with the New England Patriots for a decade, he was a fourth-round pick of the Patriots in 1983…played in the 1988 and 1989 Pro Bowls, he was an All-Pro selection by Sports Illustrated in 1988.
Terry KinardFree Safety
· 1981-82
First and still the only Clemson player to be unanimous All-America pick…first two-time Clemson All-America defensive back…a first-team AP All-American two years in a row, the only Clemson player to do that…CBS National Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 1982…chosen to the USA Today All-College Football Team in the 1980’s…two-year member of the All-ACC team…all-time Clemson leader in interceptions with 17, a mark that tied the 20-year-old ACC record…holds Clemson record for tackles by a defensive back with 294 in his career…first-round pick of the New York Giants in 1983, he was the 10th pick of the entire draft…named to College Football’s Centennial Team by Sports Illustrated in 1999…played with Super Bowl Champion Giants in 1986 and was with the club 1983-89…played in the 1988 Pro Bowl Game…played with Houston Oilers in 1990…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996…Clemson’s #3 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 2001…inducted into Clemson Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Ring of Honor in 2001…inducted into the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2002…named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002…named one of the 50 greatest male athletes in ACC history in 2003.
Lee NanneyOffensive Tackle
· 1981
Second-team UPI All-American in 1981, Clemson’s National Championship season…a co-captain of the 1980 and 1981 teams…a native of Spartanburg, he was a three-year starter for the Tigers…he started 35 straight games between 1979-81…honorable mention All-American by AP in 1981 and a four-time State Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week…winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the ACC and the state in 1980…named the team’s most improved player in 1980.
Jeff BryantDefensive Tackle
Second-team All-American on the Tigers’ National Championship team of 1981…still has 10th-best single-season tackles-for-loss mark (19) in 1981…led the National Championship team in sacks and tackles for loss…First-Team All-ACC that year…still ranks in top 10 in Clemson history in career sacks and tackles for loss…will always be remembered for his fumble recovery at North Carolina in 1981 late in the game of the 10-8 win that kept the national title hopes alive…first-round pick (#6 overall) of the Seahawks in 1982…with the Seahawks from 1982-93 and is second in Seahawk history in career sacks…inducted into Clemson Hall of Fame (1996)…named to Clemson’s Centennial team (1996)…inducted into state of South Carolina Hall of Fame (2004).
Perry TuttleWide Receiver
First-team All American receiver…all-time Clemson leader in career receptions, reception yards, single-season yardage, and most yards receiving by a junior…at end of his career all-time Clemson leader in career receptions…had five receptions for 56 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass in Clemson’s Orange Bowl victory over Nebraska…that was the final catch of his career…madeSports Illustrated cover with touchdown celebration in that game, only Clemson athlete on the cover of SI while still a Clemson athlete…caught at least one pass in each of his last 32 games…nicknamed “P.T.”…first-round draft pick (19th overall) of the Bills…played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he helped that team to Grey Cup Championship in 1990…inducted into Winnipeg Hall of Fame in 1997…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in April, 1996…ranked as Clemson’s #14 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…inducted into the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2003.
Jeff DavisLinebacker
First-team All-American linebacker…nicknamed “The Judge”…had 24 tackles versus North Carolina in 1980, second most in school history…has the third best career tackles mark with 469…has the most caused fumbles in a career (10) and most career recovered fumbles (8)…Defensive MVP of the 1981 Orange Bowl when Clemson downed Nebraska to win the national championship…captain of Clemson’s 1981 National Championship team…fifth-round draft pick of the Buccaneers…played for the Bucs from 1982-87 and was the team’s leading tackler four seasons…also captain of Tampa Bay team for four of his six seasons…National Lineman-of-the-Year by the Atlanta Touchdown Club his senior year…1989 Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, and inducted into the Ring of Honor in 1995…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996…named to the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2001…Clemson’s #2 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…currently works at Clemson as spokesman of Call Me Mister program and as an assistant athletic director…received “Use Your Life” Award from Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network in April 2001…named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002.
Obed AririPlacekicker
· 1980
Set or tied nine NCAA records for field goal kicking and scoring…NCAA all-time leader in career field goals with 63 at the time of his graduation and he led the country with 23 as a senior…tied the national record with the most consecutive games with at least one field goal at 14…had seven in a season and 17 career multiple field goal games to tie NCAA records…set seven other ACC and eight Clemson records…all-time leader in kick-scoring points (288) for both Clemson and the ACC until 1994…played three seasons of soccer…once kicked three field goals to beat Notre Dame, 16-10 in football, and scored the only goal in an NCAA soccer win over South Carolina in an eight-day span…seventh-round draft pick for the Baltimore Colts in 1981…played for Tampa Bay Bucs in 1984…inducted into Clemson Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jim StuckeyDefensive Tackle * 1979 Held quarterback sack career record with 18 until William Perry broke it in 1984…tied with Michael Dean and William Perry for single-season sack record (10)…Clemson’s career leader in tackes by a defensive lineman (314)…first-round draft pick of the 49ers in the 1980 draft, he was the 20th player chosen that year…played with the 49ers from 1980-86, he won Super Bowl Champion rings in 1981 and 1984…also played with the San Diego Chargers and New York Jets…inducted into the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1995…named to the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1995…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996.
Steve FullerQuarterback
· 1978
Third-team All-American in 1978 coupled with being on the Academic All-American team for two years…ACC Player-of-the-Year in 1977,78…in 1978, he led Clemson to the ACC title and then to a Gator Bowl win; team was 11-1 and ranked sixth in the final poll…fourth with 4,359 yards passing and third in total offense with 6,096 yards in his career…second in Tiger history in career touchdown responsibility (44)…second-best pass interception avoidance percentage (3.33) in NCAA history at the time of his graduation…shared Frank Howard Award with Jerry Butler for the 1978-79 academic year, he won it outright in 1977-78…only two-time recipient of that award…first-round draft pick (23rd overall) of the Chiefs in 1979, he was the…played for Super Bowl Champion Bears in 1985…named to the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame (1991)…Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (1985), and one of three original inductees to the Ring of Honor (1994)…quarterback on Clemson’s Centennial Team (1996)…Clemson’s #5 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians (1999)…ACC 50-Year Anniversary player (2002).
Jerry ButlerSplit End
First-team AP All-American…had a record 2,223 receiving yards and at least one catch in 35 straight games…a Senior Bowl participant…co-winner of Frank Howard Award with Steve Fuller for the 1978-79 academic year…will always be remembered for his game-winning catch at South Carolina in 1977 in 31-27 Tiger win…10th in the nation in receiving with 4.9 catches per game in 1978…first-round draft pick of the Bills, he was the fifth pick of the draft…AFC Rookie-of-the-Year in 1979 by UPI and The Sporting News…played in the 1980 Pro Bowl…played with the Bills for nine years (1979-87)…named to the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1986…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996…inducted into State of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1997…ranked as Clemson’s #4 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…inducted into the Clemson Ring of Honor in 1999…named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002.
Joe BosticOffensive Guard
· 1977-78
Two-time first-team All-American…four-year starter on the Tiger offensive line (1975-78)…named the top blocker in the ACC in 1977 and the Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner for the state of South Carolina in 1977,78…started in the 1979 Hula Bowl…played in the East-West Shrine Bowl…third-round draft pick of the Cardinals (1979), he played for 10 years (1979-88)…1979 NFL All-Rookie Team pick…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996…inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1996…ranked as Clemson’s #11 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002.
Bennie CunninghamTight End
· 1974-75
Consensus first-team All-American as a junior, he was also chosen to some first teams as a senior…16th on Clemson’s all-time receptions list…a two-time First-Team All-ACC pick…selected to play in Hula Bowl, Japan Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl…played for the Steelers and won two Super Bowl rings (1978,79)…first-round pick (28th overall) of Pittsburgh in 1976…a tight end with the Steelers from 1976-85…inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1984…inducted into the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1993…Clemson’s #15 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002, the only tight end chosen.
Dave ThompsonOffensive Guard
· 1970
First-team All-American guard…played center his senior year…recipient of state of South Carolina Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 1970…First-Team All-ACC in 1970…a second-round pick of the Lions in 1971, he was the 30th selection of the entire draft…played three years with the Detroit Lions and two years with the New Orleans Saints.
Harry OlszewskiOffensive Guard
· 1967
First-team consensus All-American…only unanimous choice to All-ACC team in 1967, it was his second straight year on the team…named to the Silver Anniversary All-ACC team in 1977…played in the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl…scored a 12-yard touchdown against South Carolina his junior year, playing offensive guard, no Clemson offensive lineman has scored since…won ACC and State Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 1967…started 30-straight varsity games…drafted in third round by the Cleveland Browns…played for Montreal Alouettes, 1969-1970…1980 Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, he made it into the South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1990…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in April, 1996…passed away in spring, 1998…ranked as Clemson’s #17 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999.
Wayne MassOffensive Tackle
· 1966
First-team All-American as a junior…recipient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the ACC and South Carolina for the 1966 year…a fourth-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in the 1968 draft, he was the 99th player chosen…first-team All-ACC in 1966 and 1967…inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1993…played in the 1968 Hula Bowl and the 1967 East-West game…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in April, 1996…lives in Chicago, IL.
Lou CordileoneTackle
· 1959
Named first-team All-American, Academic All-American, and Academic All-ACC in 1959…started on two ACC Championship teams that were nationally ranked 12th and 11th in 1958 and 1959, respectively…played in two 1959 bowl games, the Sugar Bowl and the Bluebonnet Bowl…right fielder in the College World Series for the Tigers in 1959…first-round draft pick in both the NFL and the AFL, he was chosen by the Giants in the NFL and the Bills in the AFL…the 12th pick of the 1960 draft by the New York Giants…first Clemson player to play in the Hula Bowl, he also played in the 1960 College All-Star Game in Chicago…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in April, 1996.
Joel WellsBack
· 1955
Third-team All- American in 1955…broke the ACC rushing record as a junior…a second-round draft pick (18th selection overall) of the Packers after the 1956 season…played four years with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, then one year (1961) with the Giants…first Clemson running back to rank in the top 20 in the nation in rushing in consecutive seasons…ranked seventh in rushing in 1955 and 18th in 1956…two-time first-team All-ACC selection…still ranked in the top 20 in career rushing at Clemson…led Clemson in rushing three straight seasons (1954-56), he was the first Tiger to do that…played in the 1957 Senior Bowl…inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame (1974) and the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame (1974)…ranked as Clemson’s #25 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…lives in Greenville, SC.
Tom BartonGuard
· 1952
Spent two years in Navy prior to attending Clemson…named to all-state, All-South and All-America teams during his senior year…nicknamed “Black Cat”…received Blue Key Award as the Outstanding Athlete-of-the-Year in 1952…played in the 1953 All-Star College-Pro Game in Chicago…a sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 1952 season…inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1987 and the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1987…after graduating from Clemson, he went on to earn Master’s and Doctoral degrees in education…President of Greenville Technical College.
Jackie CalvertSafety
· 1950
NEA first-team All-America safety…still holds career record for rushing yards per attempt (5.92)…team co-captain for the 1951 Orange Bowl team…top all-purpose yardage gainer that season with 1,220 yards, he was a fine all-around back…still second in Tiger history in career yards per pass attempt (8.76)…also seventh in career passing efficiency…a 25th-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams after the 1950 season…one of the stalwarts on two undefeated Clemson teams…nicknamed “The Kid”…lives in Murrells Inlet, SC.
Bobby GageTailback
· 1948
Senior-year All-American after leading Clemson to a 11-0 season and a 24-23 Gator Bowl win over Missouri…unanimous choice as MVP in 1949 Gator Bowl…in top 10 in career total offense at Clemson with 3,757 yards…tied for seventh in Tiger history in career interceptions (10)…had perhaps the best all-around passing game in Tiger history when he completed 9-11 for 245 yards and two scores versus Furman in 1947…had four touchdown passes against Auburn in 1947, first Tiger to do that…first-round draft pick (sixth selection) of the Steelers, where he played two years…1976 Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame inductee…inducted into the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame (1978)…named to the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame (1990)…worked in textiles at Chemurgy Products, Inc….ranked as Clemson’s #5 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999…resides in Greenville, SC.
Ralph JenkinsCenter
· 1945
Second-team All-American in 1945…played in the 1946 Blue-Gray Classic, he was one of the first Tigers chosen to an All-Star game…an All-American as a junior, he started only four games as a senior due to injury…three-time captain, first three-time captain in Tiger history…one of the top centers in Tiger history, he was a starter from 1943-45…started all 27 games at center his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons…second Clemson offensive lineman to earn All-America honors…14th-round pick of the Steelers after the 1946 season…played one year of pro ball (1947)…inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame (1995).
Joe BlalockEnd
· 1940-41
Clemson’s first two-time All-American…sophomore starter on the 1940 Cotton Bowl team…leading Tiger receiver for three straight years…tied for seventh in Tiger history in career touchdown catches (11)…averaged 20.3 yards per catch in his career, still the school record on a yards per catch basis…fifth-round pick of the Lions after the 1941 season…played basketball in 1940-41…charter member of the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973…inducted into the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996…died August 21, 1974…Clemson’s #16 gridder of all-time by a panel of historians in 1999.
Banks McFaddenBack
· 1939
All-American in both football and basketball in the same calendar year (1939), only Clemson athlete to do that…named the nation’s most versatile athlete for 1939-40…Clemson’s first wire-service AP All-American…record setter on the field as a runner, passer, and punter…led Tigers to state championship in track twice in his three years…elected to National Football Hall of Fame in 1959…received Distinguished Alumni Award from Clemson in 1966…charter member of the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame and state of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame…only Tiger to have his jersey retired in two sports…the #4 pick of the Brooklyn Dodgers (football) after the 1939 season, that is still the highest draft pick ever by a Clemson player…played one year in the NFL and led the league in yards per rush…coached the defensive backs at Clemson for 26 years, he was also the head basketball coach from 1947-56…Clemson’s McFadden Building, dedicated in 1995, is in his honor…named to Clemson’s Centennial team in April, 1996…ranked as Clemson’s #1 football player of all-time by a panel of Clemson historians in 1999.
O.K. PressleyCenter
· 1928
Third-team All-American by Newspaper Enterprise of America, John Heisman, and Walter Trumbull…first Tiger named to any All-America team…starting center from 1926-28…a captain as a senior in 1928…started 25 games at center in his three years out of a possible 29 games…Clemson had a school-record eight wins his senior year…All-Southern in 1928.
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