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John Simpson - Football - Clemson University Athletics

#74  John Simpson

Position:
OG
Height:
6-4
Weight:
320
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
North Charleston, S.C.
High School:
Fort Dorchester HS

Offensive lineman who played both guard positions for the Tigers in 2017 before earning the starting role ... helped Clemson post a 29-1 record during his two seasons as a full-time starter ...  played 2,047 snaps over 50 games (29 starts) in his career ... 2019 consensus All-American after earning first-team honors from the AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News and WCFF.

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Offensive lineman who played both guard positions for the Tigers in 2017 before earning the starting role … helped Clemson post a 29-1 record during his two seasons as a full-time starter …  played 2,047 snaps over 50 games (29 starts) in his career … selected as a Preseason All-American for 2019 by Phil Steele (first-team) and Athlon (second-team) prior to earning consensus All-America status that year.

2019: Consensus All-American who was a first-team selection of the AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News and WCFF … second-team AP All-American … became the sixth Clemson offensive lineman to earn consensus All-American honors all-time, joining Harry Olszewski (1967), Stacy Long (1990), Jeb Flesch (1991), Stacy Seegars (1993) and Mitch Hyatt (2018) … Outland Trophy semifinalist … first-team All-ACC selection … played 725 snaps in 14 games (all starts) … played 45 snaps vs. Georgia Tech in helping Clemson to its most rushing yards (411) in a season opener since 1957 … played 66 snaps vs. No. 12 Texas A&M, earning ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week … repeated as ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after playing 69 snaps at Syracuse as Clemson held Syracuse without a sack and produced 612 yards of offense … recorded 34 snaps vs. Charlotte … played 61 snaps at North Carolina in Clemson’s first one-point win since the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl … played 56 snaps in helping Clemson to 552 yards of total offense vs. Florida State … played 26 snaps in the midst of Clemson’s 551-yard performance with 298 rushing yards at Louisville … played 29 snaps in helping Clemson exceed both 300 passing yards and 300 rushing yards vs. Boston College … played 53 snaps and scored on a one-yard touchdown run (the first touchdown of his football career at any level) in Clemson’s Atlantic Division-clinching win at NC State, becoming Clemson’s first offensive lineman to score a touchdown since 2011 and earning ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week … played 49 snaps vs. Wake Forest, helping Clemson outgain the Demon Deacons, 516-105 … played 57 snaps at South Carolina as Clemson earned its sixth consecutive victory against the Gamecocks … played 53 snaps as Clemson rolled up 600 yards of offense vs. No. 22 Virginia en route to a fifth straight ACC Championship … played 65 snaps as Clemson produced the fifth-largest comeback in school history, overcoming a 16-0 deficit in a Fiesta Bowl win vs. No. 2 Ohio State … played 66 snaps vs. No. 1 LSU.

2018: Second-team AP All-ACC … third-team All-ACC … played 858 snaps over 15 games (all starts) … played 49 snaps in helping the offense gain 531 yards of offense vs. Furman … played 60 snaps and helped the offense gain 413 yards in a start at Texas A&M … in 56 snaps, helped the offense gain 286 rushing yards and 309 passing yards in a start vs. Georgia Southern … helped Clemson once again eclipse 200 yards both rushing and passing in a start at Georgia Tech, appearing in 42 snaps … played 79 snaps in a start in a comeback win vs. Syracuse, helping power the Tigers on a 13-play, 94-yard game-winning drive … played 51 snaps in helping Clemson accrue 698 yards and a school-record 11.8 yards per carry at Wake Forest, resulting in the entire offensive line earning team offensive player of the game honors … played 55 snaps in helping Clemson accrue 471 yards of offense against No. 16 NC State … played 56 snaps in helping hand Florida State its worst home loss in program history … played 33 snaps in helping Clemson set school records in yards per play (11.6) and yards per carry (13.3) vs. Louisville, resulting in the offensive line’s second collective selection as offensive player of the game … played 71 snaps in Clemson’s Atlantic Division-clinching win at No. 17 Boston College … played 64 snaps as Clemson eclipsed 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards vs. Duke … played 64 snaps vs. South Carolina in helping guide Clemson to 744 total yards, the third-highest total in school history … played 50 snaps in ACC Championship Game against Pitt … played 67 snaps as Clemson passed for 327 yards and rushed for 211 yards vs. No. 3 Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl … played 61 snaps in National Championship Game victory vs. No. 1 Alabama.

2017: Had 11 knockdowns in 300 snaps over 12 games … had a knockdown in 26 snaps against Kent State on Sept. 2 … played 18 snaps at No. 14 Louisville on Sept. 16 … had a team-high four knockdowns in 33 snaps against Boston College on Sept. 23; named team co-offensive player-of-the-game … played 10 snaps at No. 12 Virginia Tech on Sept. 30 … played 32 snaps against Wake Forest on Oct. 7 … played 12 snaps at Syracuse on Oct. 13 … had a knockdown in 20 snaps against Georgia Tech on Oct. 28 … had a knockdown in 23 snaps at No. 20 NC State on Nov. 4 … played 30 snaps against Florida State on Nov. 11 … had a knockdown in 40 snaps against The Citadel on Nov. 18 … had two knockdowns in 22 snaps at South Carolina on Nov. 25 … had a knockdown in 34 snaps against No. 7 Miami (Fla.) in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 2.

2016: Had four knockdown blocks in 160 snaps over nine games … allowed just one sack … played 10 snaps in the win over Troy … graded 91 percent with two knockdown blocks in 32 snaps against SC State … played 24 snaps at Boston College, registering an 88 percent grade … played 33 snaps against Syracuse … logged seven snaps in game against Pittsburgh … graded 87 percent in 15 snaps at Wake Forest … played 26 snaps against South Carolina before suffering a foot injury … saw 10 snaps of action in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.

Before Clemson: Played in the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio … rated No. 151 overall prospect in the country by 247 Sports … listed No. 2 in South Carolina and No. 7 at his position by 247 Sports … rated the No. 183 overall prospect in the nation by Scout, who also lists him No. 13 at his position … an ESPN top 300 player, he is rated No. 232 overall, the second-best prospect in South Carolina and No. 14 at his position … listed No. 3 prospect in the state by Rivals … finalist for Mr. Football in state of South Carolina … named Palmetto Lineman of the Year … also a state champion in wrestling as a junior … played for Steve LaPrad … chose Clemson over Florida and LSU … recruited by Tony Elliott and Robbie Caldwell.

Personal: Born Aug. 19, 1997 … graduated in December 2019 with a degree in sociology … completed microinternship with WH Trucking in 2018.