CLEMSON, S.C. — Former Clemson football player Michael Allen, now a successful architect in the Greenville, S.C. area, received the 2019 Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award at the Clemson Football Awards banquet on Saturday night. The honor is presented each year by the program to a former player who has had success professionally and in terms of community service after his Clemson career.
Allen was one of the most versatile football players on Tommy West’s teams between 1995 and 1998. The four-year letterman was a solid contributor to three bowl teams. He started his career as a running back as a freshman, then played on defense his final three years.
An off-and-on starter, he had a 50-yard interception return in Clemson’s season ending victory over South Carolina in 1998, and also had a career-high 10 tackles as a starter against NC State that same year.
Allen was a two-time recipient of an ACC Community Service Award and was honored as a Peach Bowl Scholar-Athlete. He was a founding member of the Clemson LIFE Line Community service program at Clemson.
After a professional career that included a stint in the Arena Football League, Allen followed his passion to a career in architecture. He had earned a degree in architecture design at Clemson.For the last 15 years, Allen has had a successful career in the industry and currently works at McMillan, Pazdan and Smith in Greenville, where his area of emphasis is the design of athletic facilities. Recently he was the Project Manager for the design of 2016 National Champion Coastal Carolina’s baseball stadium in Myrtle Beach.
Recently, Allen was named one of the Best and Brightest by Greenville Magazine and has served on boards and advisory committees for United Way of Greenville, Upstate Forever, Greenville Tech College Foundation and the City of Greenville Planning Commission.
Allen founded his own non-profit organization called LeadRs, a reading and leadership development program for African-American young men. He was recently named to the Clemson Board of Visitors and is the current Chairman of the Leadership South Carolina Board.
Including Allen’s selection for this honor, Clemson’s full list of awards given at the team’s annual awards banquet on Saturday evening is included below:
Solid Rock AwardsMost solid, consistent, dependable player at each positionQB: Trevor LawrenceRB: Travis EtienneWR: Hunter Renfrow, Tee HigginsTE: Garrett WilliamsOL: Justin Falcinelli, Mitch HyattDE: Clelin FerrellDT: Christian Wilkins, Dexter LawrenceLB: Kendall JosephDB: A.J. Terrell, Tanner Muse
Hustle AwardsPlayers who gave consistent effort throughout the year and served as an inspiration to teammatesOffense: RB Adam Choice, OL Gage CervenkaDefense: DE Clelin Ferrell, DT Christian Wilkins
12th Man AwardsPlayers outside the starting 11 who contributed the mostOffense: WR Justyn Ross, QB Chase Brice, WR Derion KendrickDefense: DT Albert Huggins, S Nolan Turner
Iron Man AwardsDependable players who displayed resilient persistence and leadershipOffense: T Mitch Hyatt, T Tremayne Anchrum, WR Hunter RenfrowDefense: LB Tre Lamar, DE Austin Bryant, CB Trayvon Mullen
Most Improved Players of the YearOffense: G John Simpson, OL Gage Cervenka, QB Chase BriceDefense: S Denzel Johnson, LB Isaiah Simmons, DT Albert HugginsSpecial Teams: S Nolan Turner
Most Inspirational AwardAs voted on by their teammatesQB Chase BriceRB Adam Choice
Rookie of the Year AwardsOffense: QB Trevor Lawrence, WR Justyn RossDefense: DE Xavier Thomas
Scout Team Players of the YearOffensive Scout Team: DL Justin Mascoll, LB Luke PriceDefensive Scout Team: TE J.L. Banks, WR Carter Groomes
Future Impact PlayersOffense: RB Lyn-J Dixon, T Jackson Carman, TE Braden Galloway, WR Derion KendrickDefense: DE Xavier Thomas, CB Mario Goodrich, DL Jordan Williams
Tiger Pride AwardMost valuable players on the unitOffense: RB Travis Etienne, QB Trevor LawrenceDefense: DE Clelin Ferrell, DT Christian Wilkins
Specialist of the YearPK Greg Huegel
Special Teams Players of the YearGiven for the greatest effort on these unitsOffensive Special Teams: PR Amari Rodgers, KR Derion KendrickDefensive Special Teams: S Kyle Cote, LB Isaiah Simmons, LB Chad Smith
PAW AwardMost blue-collar and unselfish playersOffense: WR Trevion Thompson, TE Milan Richard, OL Sean PollardDefense: DE Austin Bryant, LB J.D. Davis, DT Dexter Lawrence, LB Kendall Joseph
Tim Bourret AwardPlayer who best represents himself, his teammates and Clemson University in the mediaDE Clelin Ferrell
Academic AwardsRedshirt: WR Max MayFreshman: WR Will BrownSophomore: S Hall MortonJunior: LS Patrick PhibbsSenior: P Carson KingOverall: PK Alex Spence
True Tigers of the YearSelected by Nieri Student-Athlete Enrichment Center staff for exemplifying “Best is the Standard” in academic achievementOL Gage CervenkaDE Justin FosterS Denzel JohnsonWR Amari Rodgers
Spiritual Leadership AwardRB Ty Thomason
5th Quarter Professional of the YearFor excellence in seeking professional development opportunities, including commitment to networking, internship involvement and attendance of career and professional development eventsDE Chris Register
C.U. In Life Service Above Self AwardFor demonstrating a heart for serving othersPK Greg Huegel
P.A.T. Man of the Year AwardFor personifying manhood through leadership, ethics, demeanor, and community involvementDE Clelin Ferrell
NSCA Strength All-America NomineesOL Gage CervenkaDT Dexter LawrenceDE Austin BryantLB Kendall Joseph
Strength Dedication AwardRB Adam ChoiceDE Clelin FerrellLB Luke PriceTE Garrett Williams
All-In Accountability Leadership AwardCaptains: RB Adam Choice, PK Alex Spence, TE Milan Richard, WR Trevion ThompsonMembers: OL Gage Cervenka, RB Travis Etienne, DE Justin Foster, TE Braden Galloway, OL Bobby Gettys, S Denzel Johnson, DT Xavier Kelly, S Hall Morton, RB Darien Rencher, WR Amari Rodgers, WR Justyn Ross
Permanent 2018 Team CaptainsRB Adam ChoiceDE Clelin FerrellT Mitch HyattLB Kendall JosephWR Hunter RenfrowDT Christian Wilkins
