Clemson hands out team honors, Michael Dean Perry receives Dawkins award |
CLEMSON, S.C. — Former Clemson All-American and six-time NFL Pro Bowler Michael Dean Perry was named the recipient of the Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award at the Clemson's annual football banquet on Sunday night. Since 2013, Head Coach
Dabo Swinney has presented the Brian Dawkins Clemson Lifetime Achievement Award to a former Clemson player who exemplifies excellence in the areas of integrity, scholarship, athletics, service, leadership, commitment, dedication, courage, resilience and spirit.
Recipients must be out of school at least 10 years to qualify. Dawkins, who played 16 years in the NFL and was named to nine Pro Bowls and was a finalist for many public service awards, was the first recipient. Perry played for Clemson between 1984-87 and recorded a still-school-record 61 career tackles for loss. Twenty-eight of those tackles-for-loss were sacks, still tied for second-most in Clemson history on a career basis. During his senior year, he helped the Tigers to a second-straight ACC Championship and a 10-2 record. He had 24 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks from his defensive tackle position and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, which is given to the top interior lineman in the nation by the Football Writers Association of America. Perry was also named the ACC Player of the Year in 1987, one of just three Clemson defensive players to win the award. He was also named the team MVP on defense. In 1988, Perry was the 50th selection in the NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. In just his second year, 1989, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Pro selection. He also was named first or second-team All-Pro in 1990, 1991 and 1994. The native of Aiken, S.C. played 10 seasons in the NFL and finished with 61 career sacks, ironically, the same as his tackle-for-loss total at Clemson. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1996) during his NFL career, second among former Clemson players, trailing only Dawkins. Overall, Perry played 148 NFL games, 127 as a starter. His 61 sacks are third among former Clemson players in the NFL and his 13 caused fumbles are fifth. He had 534 solo tackles during his NFL career. At the conclusion of his career, Perry was named to the Clemson Centennial team in 2000, and was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame the same year. He was also named to the All-Decade team for the 1990s by Pro Football Reference. In 2005, Perry was named to the state of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2016 was inducted into the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame. Perry and his wife, who live in Charlotte, operate A1 Transportation Company, which specializes in wheelchair transportation. Brian Dawkins Award Recipients 2013: Brian Dawkins, 1992-95 2014: Bill Smith, 1977-81 2015: Warren Forney, 1991-95 2016: Jerry Butler, 1975-78 2017: Jeff Davis, 1978-81 2018: Mark Richardson, 1979-82 2019: Michael Allen, 1995-98 2020: Michael Dean Perry, 1984-87 In addition to Perry's selection for this honor, Clemson's list of awards presented at the team's annual awards banquet on Sunday evening is included below: OFFENSIVE AWARDS Solid Rock Award Most solid, consistent and dependable player at each position WR Tee Higgins WR Justyn Ross TE JC Chalk OL John Simpson Hustle Award Consistent effort and served as an inspiration to teammates OL Sean Pollard 12th Man Award RB Lyn-J Dixon WR Diondre Overton Iron Man Award Dependable player with resilient persistence and leadership OL Tremayne Anchrum Most Improved Offensive Player of the Year TE Luke Price Rookie of the Year WR Joseph Ngata Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year Offensive Special Teams Player of the Year OL Gage Cervenka Tiger Pride Award (MVP) RB Travis Etienne WR Tee Higgins QB Trevor Lawrence Future Impact Players WR Frank Ladson Jr. TE Davis Allen RB Chez Mellusi OL Will Putnam Paw Award Most blue collar/unselfish player OL Sean Pollard WR Amari Rodgers QB Chase Brice WR Diondre Overton Most Improved Special Teams Player of the Year Specialist of the Year DEFENSIVE AWARDS Solid Rock Award Most solid, consistent and dependable player at each position CB A.J. Terrell DT Tyler Davis Hustle Award Consistent effort and served as an inspiration to teammates S Tanner Muse 12th Man Award Iron Man Award Dependable player with resilient persistence and leadership CB A.J. Terrell S Tanner Muse LB James Skalski Most Improved Defensive Player of the Year S K'Von Wallace LB Chad Smith Rookie of the Year DT Tyler Davis CB Derion Kendrick Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year WR Max May Defensive Special Teams Player of the Year S Nolan Turner LB Isaiah Simmons LB James Skalski Tiger Pride Award (MVP) LB Isaiah Simmons CB A.J. Terrell S Tanner Muse Future Impact Players DE K.J. Henry Paw Award Most blue collar/unselfish player LB Chad Smith DE Logan Rudolph STRENGTH AWARDS NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-Americans S Tanner Muse S K'Von Wallace OL John Simpson OL Tremayne Anchrum Dedication Award OL Gage Cervenka LB Landon Holden WR Amari Rodgers LB James Skalski All-In Accountability Challenge Champion Captains OL Tremayne Anchrum WR Diondre Overton All-In Accountability Challenge Champion Team Members DT Tyler Davis OL Will Edwards WR Hamp Greene WR Tee Higgins RB Ty Lucas OL Jordan McFadden WR Joseph Ngata WR Amari Rodgers WR Justyn Ross WR Will Swinney S Ray Thornton III S Elijah Turner DE Greg Williams Most Inspirational Player of Year WR Amari Rodgers ADDITIONAL AWARDS GPA Awards Overall: WR Max May Senior: S Elijah Turner Junior: WR Will Swinney Sophomore: WR Will Brown Redshirt Freshman: WR Drew Swinney Freshman: LB David Cote True Tigers of the Year CB Derion Kendrick RB Ty Lucas QB Ben Batson LB Baylon Spector Spiritual Leadership Award WR Will Swinney Tim Bourret Award Best represents himself, his teammates and Clemson University in the media QB Trevor Lawrence P.A.W. Journey Professional of the Year P.A.W. Journey Service Above Self Award OL Sean Pollard P.A.W. Journey P.A.T. Man of the Year OL Tremayne Anchrum Team Captains OL Tremayne Anchrum OL John Simpson OL Gage Cervenka WR Diondre Overton S K'Von Wallace S Tanner Muse LB Isaiah Simmons
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