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Position:
OL
Height:
6-4
Weight:
310
Class:
+Sr. (Graduate)
Hometown:
Tampa, Fla.
High School:
Plant HS

Two-time All-ACC selection and four-year starter along the offensive line, including two seasons at guard in 2020-21 and two all-conference campaigns at center in 2022 and 2023 ... played 3,564 snaps from scrimmage, the second-most in Clemson history, over 60 career games (49 starts) ... concluded his career trailing only Mitch Hyatt (3,754) in career snaps from scrimmage in Clemson annals ... became the sixth player in school history to reach 3,000 career snaps from scrimmage, joining fellow offensive linemen Mitch Hyatt, Dalton Freeman, Landon Walker, Kyle Young and Glenn Rountree ... joined Hyatt as the only players to reach 3,500 snaps ... exited as Clemson's career leader in games played by an offensive lineman (60) ... left Clemson as one of nine players to appear in 60 career games for the Tigers alongside P Will Spiers, WR/H Will Swinney, LB James Skalski, PK B.T. Potter, S Nolan Turner, DE Justin Mascoll, DE Xavier Thomas and S Jalyn Phillips ... started the final 49 games of his career, tying center Dalton Freeman's school record by a non-specialist (49 from 2009-12) ... after returning from injury in the middle of 2021, started each of Clemson's next 30 games through the end of his career.

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Two-time All-ACC selection and four-year starter along the offensive line, including two seasons at guard in 2020-21 and two all-conference campaigns at center in 2022 and 2023 … played 3,564 snaps from scrimmage, the second-most in Clemson history, over 60 career games (49 starts) … concluded his career trailing only Mitch Hyatt (3,754) in career snaps from scrimmage in Clemson annals … became the sixth player in school history to reach 3,000 career snaps from scrimmage, joining fellow offensive linemen Mitch Hyatt, Dalton Freeman, Landon Walker, Kyle Young and Glenn Rountree … joined Hyatt as the only players to reach 3,500 snaps … exited as Clemson’s career leader in games played by an offensive lineman (60) … left Clemson as one of nine players to appear in 60 career games for the Tigers alongside P Will Spiers, WR/H Will Swinney, LB James Skalski, PK B.T. Potter, S Nolan Turner, DE Justin Mascoll, DE Xavier Thomas and S Jalyn Phillips … started the final 49 games of his career, tying center Dalton Freeman’s school record by a non-specialist (49 from 2009-12) … after returning from injury in the middle of 2021, started each of Clemson’s next 30 games through the end of his career … part of Clemson squads that went 54-13 in his tenure, including three ACC titles, three bowl wins, two College Football Playoff berths and a national title game appearance.

2023: Voted by his teammates as a permanent team captain … repeated as a third-team All-ACC selection, joining Dalton Freeman, Jay Guillermo and Justin Falcinelli among Clemson centers under Dabo Swinney to earn multiple all-conference honors … played 953 offensive snaps over 13 games (all starts) … All-ACC Academic Team selection … played 86 snaps in season debut at Duke, helping the Tigers exceed both 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards … played 53 snaps as Clemson amassed 679 yards of offense and 37 first downs vs. Charleston Southern … played 53 snaps in Clemson’s sack-free win vs. Florida Atlantic … played 82 snaps in a 429-yard effort vs. No. 4 Florida State … played 76 snaps in a win at Syracuse … played 70 snaps as Clemson rushed for 207 yards vs. Wake Forest, in the process becoming the sixth Clemson player on record to play 3,000 career snaps from scrimmage … played 70 snaps in Cade Klubnik’s 314-yard passing performance at Miami (Fla.), passing Glenn Rountree (3,048) and Kyle Young (3,097) on Clemson’s career snaps list during the contest … played 80 snaps at NC State, passing Landon Walker (3,131) for the third-most career snaps in school history … played 69 snaps and helped propel to Phil Mafah to a career-best 186-yard rushing performance vs. No. 12 Notre Dame, collecting both ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week and Outland Trophy National Player of the Week … played 64 snaps as Clemson reached 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards vs. Georgia Tech … earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after he played 91 snaps as Clemson produced 466 yards and no sacks vs. No. 20 North Carolina, moving past Dalton Freeman (3,361 from 2009-12) for the second-most career snaps from scrimmage in Clemson history in the process … played 75 snaps and helped power Clemson to 219 rushing yards at South Carolina … played 84 snaps in Clemson’s fourth-quarter comeback win vs. Kentucky in the Gator Bowl … made his 49th career start in that game to tie tackle Landon Walker and center Dalton Freeman for the second-most career starts by an offensive lineman in school history.

2022: Third-team All-ACC selection in his first year at center … earned first-team All-ACC honors from College Football Network … started every game in his first year at center, playing 996 offensive snaps, the fourth-most in a season at center in Clemson history … All-ACC Academic Team selection … ACC Honor Roll selection … after two years as as starter at guard, made his first start at center and played 69 snaps in a 31-point victory at Georgia Tech … played 53 snaps vs. Furman as DJ Uiagalelei set a new career high in passer rating … played 60 snaps in paving the way for 280 rushing yards and 241 passing yards vs. Louisiana Tech, collecting ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors … played every offensive snap at No. 21 Wake Forest, powering Clemson to 559 yards in a double-overtime victory … played 69 snaps in a sack-free performance by Clemson’s offensive line vs. No. 10 NC State … played all 64 snaps at Boston College … played 68 snaps at Florida State as Clemson did not commit a turnover for the third time in four games … played 86 snaps vs. No. 14 Syracuse as the Tigers rushed for a season-high 293 yards and leaned on the ground game to overcome an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit in the win … played all 70 offensive snaps at Notre Dame … played 74 snaps in helping power Clemson to 248 rushing yards vs. Louisville … earned his second ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honor and collected team co-offensive player of game after playing 78 snaps vs. Miami (Fla.) to help Clemson exceed 200 yards both on the ground and through the air … played 68 snaps in Clemson’s 237-yard rushing performance vs. South Carolina … played 42 snaps for a unit that held No. 24 North Carolina without a sack during Cade Klubnik’s MVP performance in the ACC Championship Game … credited with 105 snaps in the Orange Bowl vs. No. 6 Tennessee.

2021: Started all 10 games in which he appeared, playing 633 offensive snaps … third-team all-conference pick by Phil Steele … played 67 snaps vs. No. 5 Georgia … played 51 snaps and shared team offensive player of the game honors vs. SC State as Clemson exceeded both 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards … played 70 plays vs. Georgia Tech, Clemson’s second straight game allowing zero sacks … played 53 snaps at NC State … battled through 51 snaps in a Friday night win at Syracuse after missing Clemson’s game against Boston College with an injury … played 65 snaps at No. 23 Pitt … played 75 snaps and helped pave the way for Will Shipley’s 128 rushing yards in a comeback win vs. Florida State … played 73 snaps vs. No. 13 Wake Forest as Clemson’s offensive line shared team offensive players of the game honors with Kobe Pace after the Tigers produced season highs in total yards (543) and rushing yards (333) while allowing zero sacks … played 55 snaps at South Carolina in helping Clemson both exceed 250 rushing yards and allow zero sacks in a second straight game … played 74 snaps vs. Iowa State as Clemson extended its streak of consecutive 10-win seasons to 11.

2020: Started all 12 games, playing 790 snaps as Clemson led the ACC as the only team to allow fewer than two sacks per game … All-ACC Academic Team selection … made first career start at Wake Forest, playing 65 snaps and helping Clemson to 561 yards of offense … played 33 snaps in Clemson’s shutout win vs. The Citadel … played 68 snaps vs. Virginia in helping Trevor Lawrence post his second 300-yard passing game of the season … played 89 snaps in helping Clemson exceed both 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing against No. 7 Miami … played 41 snaps at Georgia Tech as Clemson accumulated 671 yards and 73 points in the largest conference win in ACC history … played 78 snaps in Travis Etienne’s three-touchdown performance against Syracuse … played 81 snaps vs. Boston College as Clemson scored 24 unanswered points to overcome an 18-point deficit in the largest comeback win in the history of Death Valley … played 79 snaps in helping D.J. Uiagalelei throw for 439 yards in a double-overtime contest at No. 4 Notre Dame … played 76 snaps vs. Pitt, helping protect Trevor Lawrence during his 403-yard passing performance … played 47 snaps at Virginia Tech, holding the Hokies without a sack and helping Clemson to 7.9 yards per carry in the contest … played 63 snaps as Clemson produced 541 yards of offense in ACC Championship Game vs. No. 2 Notre Dame … played 70 snaps in Sugar Bowl vs. No. 3 Ohio State.

2019: Played 192 snaps over 11 games … played 16 snaps in collegiate debut vs. Georgia Tech … played eight snaps at Syracuse … recorded 15 snaps vs. Charlotte … played 29 snaps in helping Clemson to 552 yards of total offense vs. Florida State … played 10 snaps in the midst of Clemson’s 551-yard performance with 298 rushing yards at Louisville … played 34 snaps in helping Clemson exceed both 300 passing yards and 300 rushing yards vs. Boston College … played 26 snaps in helping Clemson to 702 yards of offense vs. Wofford … played 18 snaps in Clemson’s Atlantic Division-clinching win at NC State … played 18 snaps vs. Wake Forest, helping Clemson outgain the Demon Deacons, 516-105 … played eight snaps at South Carolina as Clemson earned its sixth consecutive victory against the Gamecocks … played 10 snaps as Clemson rolled up 600 yards of offense vs. No. 22 Virginia en route to a fifth straight ACC Championship.

Before Clemson: National top 120 player and four-star recruit by three services … ranked No. 80 overall player in the nation by 247Sports, third-best offensive guard in the nation and 11th-best overall player in Florida … Rivals.com ranked Putnam as its No. 106 overall player, No. 7 offensive guard and No. 14 player in Florida … ESPN.com listed him as No. 116 overall player, No. 5 offensive guard and No. 15 player in Florida … selected to US Army All-American game in San Antonio … played for Robert Werner at Plant High School in Tampa the last two years … played at Glenwood High School in Chatham, Ill. as a freshman and sophomore … father is with the U.S. Army and his job was reason for the transfer … helped Plant High to 11-2 season in 2018 … one of four team captains in 2018 for Plant … played both ways throughout his career … in addition to his outstanding blocking, had 63 tackles on defense in 2018 with eight tackles for loss, five of which were sacks … had 31 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss in 2016 at Glenwood High … outstanding wrestler who competed in state heavyweight tournament as a freshman at Glenwood in 2016 … was the Florida state champion as a heavyweight in 2018 with a 25-0 record for the season … recruited by Robbie Caldwell and Tony Elliott … signed with Clemson on Dec. 20, 2018 … enrolled at Clemson in January 2019.

Personal: Born Aug. 13, 2000 … earned degree in management in December 2022 … added a master’s in business administration in August 2024 … completed microinternships with Lima One Capital in Greenville in spring 2022 and TD Synnex in Tampa in spring 2023 … four-time ACC Honor Roll selection (2019-20 and 2022-23) … three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree (2020, 2022-23) … ran the American flag down the Hill prior to the 2022 Louisville game in honor of his father, Col. Neil Putnam, who served 30 years in the United States Army, including 24 with the Green Berets … grandson of Neil Putnam, who served as head coach at Lafayette College from 1971-80.

ACC Champion

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Clemson Graduate

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Hello, I'm Will Putnam!