Clemson Sends Seven Former Players To 2007 NFL Combine

March 6, 2007

CLEMSON, SC – Seven former Clemson football players participated in the National Football League’s 2007 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, IN from Feb. 22-27. The group included consensus first-team All-American Gaines Adams and 2006 first-team All-ACC honorees Nathan Bennett and Chansi Stuckey, as well Duane Coleman, Dustin Fry, C.J. Gaddis and Anthony Waters. The seven players are the most the Tigers have sent to the annual event in Head Coach Tommy Bowden’s eight seasons at the helm.

Adams solidified his position as one of the top two defensive ends in the 2007 draft after running a 4.64 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time at his position. Gaddis also recorded marks among the top-10 for defensive backs in the 40-yard dash, the 20-yard shuttle, 60-yard shuttle, vertical jump and broad jump. Stuckey ran a time of 4.14 in the 20-yard shuttle, which ranked fourth among wide receivers at the Combine.

Adams, a native of Greenwood, SC, was named the ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Year and was one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given to the top defensive player in college football. He was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2006, becoming the first Tiger to make that claim since Terry Kinard in 1982. Adams tied the school record with 28 career sacks, including 12 1/2 last season.

Bennett was a third-team Associated Press All-American in 2006 and a first-team All-ACC selection at offensive guard. He led the team in both knockdown blocks ( ) and intimidation blocks. Bennett played in 48 games over his career with 38 starts, which ranked second on the 2006 team behind starting punter Cole Chason.

Coleman started 12 games in the 2006 season and finished fourth on the team with 81 total tackles, including 59 first hits. He caused two fumbles last year while recovering three in just his first full season on the defensive side of the ball.

Fry, the 2006 team’s starting center, was a second-team All-ACC selection and a first-team All-ACC pick by CollegeFootballNews.com. He has played in more snaps than any other Tigers each of the last two seasons.

Gaddis, who will forgo his senior season to enter the 2007 draft, started 11games in 2006. He recorded 33 total tackles with 8.5 for loss and also intercepted two passes last season to give him five for his career.

Stuckey became the first two-time first-team All-ACC wide receiver from Clemson since Perry Tuttle in 1980 and 1981 with his selection in 2006, despite missing three games with a broken foot. He ranked second in the conference in receptions per game and reception yards per game after leading the league in both categories last season. He ranks sixth in Clemson history with 141 career receptions and is eighth in career reception yards with 1,760.

Anthony Waters suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the second half of the Tigers’ 2006 season-opener. He had been a preseason first-team All-American and Butkus Award candidate. He was also in the preseason discussion for the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Award. Waters played 36 games in his career at Clemson, including 23 as a starter. He tallied 217 total tackles over his career with 146 first-hits and 3.5 sacks.