2025 Clemson Football Awards Banquet

Clemson recognized the 130th team in Clemson Football history at its annual football banquet on Saturday, Jan. 10. Included below are this year’s honorees.

OFFENSIVE AWARDS

Solid Rock Award
Most solid, consistent and dependable player(s) at each position
QB Cade Klubnik
RB Adam Randall
WR Antonio Williams
WR Bryant Wesco Jr.
TE Olsen Patt-Henry
OL Blake Miller

Hustle Award
Consistent effort and served as an inspiration to teammates
OL Tristan Leigh
OL Walker Parks

12th Man Award
TE Christian Bentancur
RB Gideon Davidson
OL Harris Sewell
WR Tristan Smith
WR Cole Turner

Iron Man Award
Dependable player with resilient persistence and leadership
QB Cade Klubnik
OL Tristan Leigh
C Ryan Linthicum
OT Blake Miller

Most Improved Offensive Players of the Year
RB Gideon Davidson
RB Adam Randall
OL Harris Sewell

Rookies of the Year
RB Gideon Davidson
OL Brayden Jacobs

Defensive Scout Team Players of the Year
DT Patrick Swygert
LB Drew Woodaz

Future Impact Players
OL Gavin Blanchard
TE Logan Brooking
RB Gideon Davidson
OL Tucker Kattus
OL Ronan O’Connell
WR Juju Preston

PAW Award
Most blue collar/unselfish players
WR Tyler Brown
C Ryan Linthicum
OL Walker Parks
TE Olsen Patt-Henry

Tiger Pride Award (MVP)
OL Blake Miller
WR T.J. Moore
RB Adam Randall
WR Antonio Williams

DEFENSIVE AWARDS

Solid Rock Award
Most solid, consistent and dependable player(s) at each position
CB Ashton Hampton
CB Avieon Terrell
S Ronan Hanafin
DT DeMonte Capehart
DT Peter Woods
DE Will Heldt
DE T.J. Parker
LB Sammy Brown
LB Wade Woodaz

Hustle Award
Consistent effort and served as an inspiration to teammates
DE Cade Denhoff
S Ronan Hanafin
DE Jahiem Lawson
CB Branden Strozier

12th Man Award
CB Corian Gipson
DE Jahiem Lawson
CB Branden Strozier

Iron Man Award
Dependable player with resilient persistence and leadership
LB Sammy Brown
DE Will Heldt
CB Avieon Terrell
S Tyler Venables
LB Wade Woodaz
DT Peter Woods

Most Improved Defensive Players of the Year
LB Jeremiah Alexander
CB Corian Gipson
DE Jahiem Lawson
LB Kobe McCloud
CB Branden Strozier

Rookies of the Year
DT Amare Adams
CB Corian Gipson

Offensive Scout Team Players of the Year
QB Chris Denson
OL Tucker Kattus
WR Juju Preston
WR Luke Stubbs

Future Impact Players
DT Amare Adams
S Jakarrion Kenan
LB C.J. Kubah-Taylor
DE Darien Mayo
DT Champ Thompson
DE Ari Watford

PAW Award
Most blue collar/unselfish players
LB Jeremiah Alexander
S Ronan Hanafin
DE Will Heldt
LB Kobe McCloud
S Tyler Venables

Tiger Pride Award (MVP)
LB Sammy Brown
DE Will Heldt
DT Peter Woods

SPECIAL TEAMS AWARDS

Most Improved Special Teams Players of the Year
LB Joseph Roberto
CB Branden Strozier
S Joe Wilkinson
LB Drew Woodaz

Offensive Special Teams Players of the Year
TE Christian Bentancur
OL Chapman Pendergrass
OL Dietrick Pennington
WR Tristan Smith

Defensive Special Teams Players of the Year
S Ronan Hanafin
S Tyler Venables

Special Teams Scout Team Players of the Year
LB Griffin Batt
WR Juju Preston
WR Avery Wieting

Specialist of the Year
P Jack Smith

STRENGTH AWARDS

NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-American Candidates
LB Sammy Brown
OL Blake Miller

Dedication Award
DE Will Heldt
RB Adam Randall
S Tyler Venables

Power Hour Development Award
RB Max Wilson

All-In Accountability Challenge Champion Captains
DT DeMonte Capehart
C Ryan Linthicum

All-In Accountability Challenge Champion Team Members
LB Jeremiah Alexander
OL Gavin Blanchard
DT Hevin Brown-Shuler
DB Tyler Conner
PK Robert Gunn III
DE Will Heldt
DE Darien Mayo
OL Harris Sewell
OL Bryce Smith
WR Ethan Stokes
WR Clay Swinney
DT Patrick Swygert
OL Watson Young

ADDITIONAL AWARDS

GPA Awards
Overall: WR Tristan Martinez
Graduate: OL Walker Parks
Senior: LB Wade Woodaz
Junior: DE Will Heldt
Sophomore: LB Sammy Brown
Redshirt Freshman: RB Max Wilson
True Freshman: LB Logan Anderson

True Tigers of the Year
Presented by Nieri Family Student-Athlete Enrichment Center staff
DT Amare Adams
RB David Eziomume
DE Darien Mayo
CB Branden Strozier
WR Bryant Wesco Jr.

Tim Bourret Award
Player who best represents himself, his teammates and Clemson University in the media
QB Cade Klubnik

Most Inspirational Players of the Year
OL Walker Parks
S Tyler Venables

Spiritual Leadership Award
LB Griffin Batt
LS Holden Caspersen
QB Cade Klubnik

King of the CASL Award
Most recovery sessions in the Clemson Applied Science Lab
DE Cade Denhoff

P.A.W. Journey First-Class Man Award
WR Adam Randall

P.A.W. Journey Service Above Self Award
S Tyler Venables

P.A.W. Journey Promising Professional Award
DE Cade Denhoff

P.A.W. Journey Young Alumni Award
Nick Schuessler (2012-16)

P.A.W. Journey P.A.T. Man of the Year
OL Tristan Leigh

Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award
Grady Jarrett (2011-14)

Team Captains
Permanent team captains for 2025 to be immortalized in the Tiger Walk plaza
QB Cade Klubnik
OL Tristan Leigh
OL Blake Miller
OL Walker Parks
RB Adam Randall
S Tyler Venables
LB Wade Woodaz