Clemson's Top Linebackers

Clemson's Top Linebackers


by - Radio Host -

Clemson’s Top Linebackers

We continue our look at the top players by position that I have seen at Clemson (since 1974). Today is our look at linebackers. Here are the top ten linebackers I have seen at Clemson:

1. Anthony Simmons

Simmons is the best defensive player I have seen at Clemson. He is Clemson’s only three-time All-American at linebacker and one of only two Tiger linebackers to be first-team All-American twice. In 1995 he was a third-team All-American. Simmons was first-team All-American in 1996 and consensus first-team All-American in 1997. Simmons was the 1995 National Rookie of the Year and an ACC 50 Year Selection. He had at least 150 tackles in all three seasons he played at Clemson. He recorded 150 as a freshman, 178 as a sophomore and 158 as a junior. Simmons had 486 tackles in three years which is second in school history.

2. Jeff Davis

Davis helped the Tigers to the national title in 1981 when he was a first-team All-American. That season he was the ACC Player of the Year. That season he recorded 175 tackles. Davis is third in Clemson career tackles with 469 tackles. He was an ACC 50 Year Selection.

Davis and Ed McDaniel hold the Clemson record with ten caused fumbles.

3. Keith Adams

Adams was a first-team All-American in 1999 and a consensus first-team All-American in 2000. He is one of only two Tigers to be named first-team All-American twice. Adams was the 1999 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He had 186 tackles as a sophomore which is the Clemson record for a single season. He set the Clemson record for tackles in a game when he had 27 against South Carolina in 1999. He set the Clemson record with 16 sacks in a single season. His 54 career tackles for a loss are third in school history. He was an All-ACC choice in 1999.

4. Levon Kirkland

Kirkland is one of the most popular players in Clemson history. He was a three-time All-ACC selection making the team in 1989, 90 and 91. He is a rare two-time All-American. Kirkland was second-team All-American in 1990 and first-team All-American in 1991.

5.Ed McDaniel

McDaniel had the rare feat of having at least 100 tackles in three of his four years. He was a first-team All-American in 1991. He was an All-ACC choice in 1990 and 1991. McDaniel and Jeff Davis set the Clemson record with ten caused fumbles. His 389 tackles are sixth in Clemson history.

6. Leroy Hill

Hill was the 2004 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-American that same season. He was selected to the All-ACC team in 2003 and 2004. His 27 tackles for a loss in 2003 were the second most in a single season.

7. Bubba Brown

Brown started 42 games at linebacker, which is a Clemson record. His 515 tackles are the most by any player in a Clemson career. He set the school record for tackles in a single season with 170, but that record was broken by Jeff Davis, then Anthony Simmons and finally Keith Adams. He was All-ACC in 1978 and 1979.

8. Randy Scott

Scott is eighth in Clemson history with 382 career tackles. From 1976-78 he teamed with Bubba Brown to give the Tigers one of the finest combinations of linebackers in school history. He was selected All-ACC in 1977 and 1978.

9. Stephone Anthony

Anthony led the Tigers in tackles as a junior and senior. He recorded 131 as a junior and 90 as a senior. He helped the Tigers to lead the nation in total defense in 2014. Anthony also had the game saving interception in the 2014 Orange Bowl against Ohio State. Anthony was a two-time All-ACC selection.

10. Ben Boulware

Boulware is another of the most popular players in school history. He helped lead the Tigers to their second national title in 2016. Boulware was an All-American last season. He was the 2016 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He recorded 138 tackles as a junior and 131 as a senior. Boulware was All-ACC in 2015 and 2016.

Among the Tigers I considered for the list included such former greats as Anthony Waters, Wayne Simmons, Johnny Rembert, Jonathan Brooks, Andy Headen, Edgar Pickett, Henry Walls, Terrance Mack, Jesse Hatcher, Doug Brewster, John Johnson, Ashley Sheppard, Tim Jones, Wardell Rouse, Rahim Abdullah, Chad Carson, Spencer Shuey, BJ Goodson and Kavell Conner.

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Prayer List

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Those who need our prayers include: Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki Sullins, Peter Laboy, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon Kirkland and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Mr. Gillespie, Bobbi Nicholson, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, Robert Summerville, Michelle Richey, Julie Moore, Ashley Fitch, Kevin Anderson, Lyn Price, John Robert Smith, Allison Williams, Nicholas Wickiser, Hammond Family, Elaine G. Duvall, Addison Grace, Bennie Cunningham, Kevin Orcutt, Alan Finley, Keith Wells, Steve Byrd, Jessica Hernandez, Wayne Mullins, Rita Alexander, Tony Osterman, family and friends of Gary Cooper, Derk Denton, Tim Vacek, Mike Vacek, Phil Compton, Alma Jean Sullivan, Lindsey Motley, Riley Cook, Dwayne Wood, Eileen Thomas, Larry Nimmons and Family, Annie Gregory, Amy Black, Will Black, Sam Smith, Dixon Family, Joe Lazorik, Mark Smith, Rene' Nelson, R. Bruce Harnage, Norris Brown and family, Tanner Cain, Avery Cain, Ted Wilson, Sandra Wilson, Leoffels family, Wren Jansen, Gail Culbreth, Jody Sinex, Donald Sikes, Carolyn and Richard Helderman, Jimmy Hutto, Christina M. Facen, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.

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