Eight 2008 Tigers Already Have Degrees

Aug. 29, 2008

The 2008 Clemson football team has seven current players who already have their undergraduate degrees from Clemson, plus another student-athlete who already has an undergraduate degree from another school.

The list of current Tigers with their degrees includes 2007 team captains Michael Hamlin and Cullen Harper. Other Tigers with their degrees are tight end Chris Clemons, starting punter Jimmy Maners, starting kicker Mark Buchholz and reserve running back Paul Macko.

Reserve wide receiver Kyle Johnson earned his undergraduate degree in three years from East Carolina and came to Clemson for graduate school. After he was accepted, he contacted the football program about joining the team as a walk-on. He still has two years of eligibility and will play this year.

Clemson has had strong graduation rates under head coach Tommy Bowden. In August, Jad Dean and Marion Dukes both graduated, giving the senior class on the 2006 team a perfect 20 for 20 in terms of graduation rate.

To honor the eight graduates this year each will wear a mortarboard sticker on their helmet to signify they are already a college graduate.

Clemson is tied for fourth in the nation for the most graduates on its roster entering the season.

Schools with most Graduates on 2008 Football Rosters 13 – Miami (FL) 10 – Boston College, Virginia Tech 8 – Clemson, Auburn, Maryland 7 – Arizona State, Memphis, Ohio State, Penn State 6 – Northwestern 5 – Baylor, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi, Central Florida