Hill, Miller Named All-Americans

Dec. 13, 2004

Clemson, SC – Clemson middle linebacker LeRoy Hill has been selected as a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and a first team All-American by Rivals.com. Justin Miller has been named second-team All-American as a return specialist by Rivals.com. Hill led the ACC and ranked 11th in the nation with eight sacks before being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year by the ACC Sports Media Association last week. Miller led the nation in kickoff return yardage, averaging 33.05 yards per return.

Earlier last week Hill was also named the ACC Player of the Year by Rivals.com and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year by the ACC Sports Media Association.

Hill tied for the ACC lead in tackles for loss (19) and moved into a tie for fifth place in Clemson history in that category (48). He had at least one tackle for loss in every game this year and had a streak of 13 straight games with a tackle for loss dating back to 2003. Hill recorded a sack in seven of 11 games in 2004 and tied a Clemson record by recording at least one sack in five consecutive games. He had seven double-digit tackle games in 2004, leading Clemson with 106 total tackles.

Hill is the first All-America linebacker at Clemson since Keith Adams in 2000 and the first Associated Press All-American since Robert Carswell in 2000. He joins the list of Clemson All-America linebackers that includes Adams, Anthony Simmons, Ed McDaniel, Levon Kirkland, Johnny Rembert, and Jeff Davis.

Miller is the first Clemson player to lead the nation in kickoff return yardage since Terrance Roulhac in 1986 and the first Tiger to lead the nation in any category since Adams led the nation in tackles and tackles for loss in 1999. Miller returned three total kicks for touchdowns in 2004, one punt in the season opener against Wake Forest and two kickoffs against Florida State.

His 13.04 punt return average ranked 19th nationally. Miller joined Miami’s Devin Hester and USC’s Reggie Bush as the only players in the nation to rank in the top 20 nationally in both kickoff and punt returns.

Miller is the first return specialist in Clemson history to be selected as an All-American and the first special teams player to be named All-American since placekicker Nelson Welch in 1992. Clemson’s tradition of All-America special team’s players includes Welch, Chris Gardocki, David Treadwell, Donald Igwebuike, Dale Hatcher and Obed Ariri.