Terry Kinard

Terry Kinard was the first Clemson player to be a unanimous All-America pick, and is now one of only three unanimous All-America selections in school history. He was the first two-time Clemson All-American defensive back and a first-team AP All-American two years in a row, the only Clemson player to do that. He was named the CBS National Defensive Player-of-the-Year for the 1982 season and was chosen to the USA Today All-College Football Team in the 1980’s.

Kinard was a two-year member of the All-ACC team. He was the all-time Clemson leader in interceptions with 17, a mark that tied the 20-year-old ACC record. He also holds Clemson record for tackles by a defensive back with 294 in his career.

After leaving Clemson Kinard was a first-round pick of the New York Giants in 1983, and was the 10th pick of the entire draft. Sports Illustrated named him to College Football’s Centennial Team in 1999. He played with Super Bowl Champion Giants in 1986 and was with the club 1983-89. During that time he played in the 1988 Pro Bowl Game. He then left the Giants and played with Houston Oilers in 1990.

He was named to Clemson’s Centennial team in April 1996. He ranked as Clemson’s #3 football player of all-time by a panel of Clemson historians in 1999 and was then inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in December 2001. He was inducted into Clemson Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Ring of Honor in 2001. He was also inducted into the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2002.