Clemson Athletic Department Awards Announced for 2023-24

Clemson, SC—The winners of three major Clemson athletic department awards for the 2023-24 academic year have been announced. Ousmane Sylla, the top goal scorer on Clemson’s National Championship Men’s Soccer team and MAC Hermann Trophy winner is the recipient of the Frank Howard Award, presented the Clemson athlete who brought honor to Clemson.

Will Shipley, the first Clemson running back to earn Academic All-American honors, is the recipient of the IPTAY Athlete of the Year, the award presented to the student-athlete who was successful on the field of competition and the classroom.  Cam Cannarella, who overcame a shoulder injury in the fourth game of the season to earn All-America honors on Clemson’s Super Regional team, is the recipient  of the Brandon Streeter Award, the honor presented to the student-athlete who has overcome injury or illness to perform at a high level on the field of competition.

Below is a summary of the award winners accomplishments in 2023-24.

IPTAY Athlete of the Year

Will Shipley,  Football

• Two-time Academic All-American; first running back in Clemson history to earn Academic All-America honors
• Joined Don Kelley (1970-71), Steve Fuller (1977-78), Kyle Young (1999-2001) and Chad Carson (1999-2001) to become the fifth multi-time Academic All-American in program history
• Became the first Tiger scholarship football player on record to graduate in three years with a 4.0 GPA.•
• Believed to be the first FBS player on record to produce 4,000 career all-purpose yards and earn a degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA in only a three-year span.
• Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist whose service and philanthropy earned him Clemson’s ninth all-time selection to the AFCA Good Works Team
• Only player in ACC history to be named first-team All-ACC in three different categories in a single year (2022)
• Recorded 2,747 yards and 31 touchdowns on 526 career rushing attempts and 602 yards and two touchdowns on 85 career receptions in 1,526 offensive snaps over 36 career games (27 starts) from 2021-23
• Finished his career ranked in the Top 10 in school history in total touchdowns (33), rushing touchdowns (31), 100-yard rushing games (10), all-purpose yards (4,253) and kickoff return yards (904)
• 2023 team captain who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft

Frank Howard Award

Ousmane Sylla, Men’s Soccer

• Won the Hermann Award, the Heisman Trophy of men’s college soccer.
• Led the Tigers in goals, assists and points in 2023, leading the team to the National Championship.
• MVP of both the ACC Tournament and the College Cup.
• Also first team All-American, All-ACC, first-team All-Atlantic Region.
• Ranked 14th in the nation in total goals with 13, he was eighth in assists with 10, and fifth in total points with 36.
• Finished 10th in the nation in game-winning goals with five.
• Scored key goal in National Championship victory over Notre Dame.
• Earned his degree in sociology in just three years with a minor in French Studies.
• Received an ACC Academic Excellence Award from the Atlantic Coast Conference in spring of 2024.

Brandon Streeter Award

Cam Cannarella, Baseball

• Sophomore outfielder Cam Cannarella picked up in 2024 where he left off in 2023, when he was ACC Freshman-of-the-Year.
• Third-team All-American in 2024 according to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
• He did so despite suffering a shoulder injury in the fourth game of the year and playing through it the entire season, unable to slide head first or steal a base in 2024.
• He hit .337 with 16 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, 60 RBIs, 58 runs and a .417 on-base percentage in 58 games.
• He had a team-high 29 multiple-hit games, including eight three-hit games, and 16 multiple-RBI games
• He hit safely in each of his first eight games in 2024 and had a 17-game hitting streak dating to 2023.
• He was named ACC Player-of-the-Week on April 29, as he was 9-for-20 (.450) with two homers, two doubles and six RBIs in four road games.
• He was invited to the USA Collegiate National Team Training Camp in June, the second year in a row he was invited.