Clemson kicker signee inks professional contract

by TigerNet Staff - Thu Feb 27 12:48:12 GMT-04:00 2020

Clemson kicker signee Tanner Tessmann signed a professional soccer deal with MLS club FC Dallas this week, Tessmann confirmed to TigerNet Thursday.

Tessmann had been in the FC Dallas academy before signing with the Tigers as a placekicker in December, with intentions to also play for Clemson soccer.

FC Dallas website 3rd Degree first reported the deal, citing negotiations closed on Tuesday with an agreement. It is a homegrown contract, which allowed FC Dallas the rights to sign him first. While eligible to play college football still, soccer is believed to be Tessmann's priority moving forward.

Swinney was enthusiastic about Tessmann's Clemson signing in December.

“(Clemson coach Mike) Noonan is somewhere, having a party somewhere right now because he just signed an unbelievably talented soccer player,” Swinney said back then. “But I’ve had the inside track on this one for a long time. My best friend is PJ Tessmann, and we’re basically brothers-in-laws...so I’ve kind of been the pseudo uncle to his two kids - Tanner, and his daughter Ashley literally their whole lives and kind of been Uncle Bo and kind of like Godfather if you will.

“But I had the inside track because I’ve seen him his entire life. And he’s one of the best athletes. He could go play D1 basketball. He could probably start at receiver at Clemson. He could probably play safety at Clemson. He’s a six-foot-two phenom. He can fly. He’s as good athlete as I’ve ever seen...It was a really difficult thing but, you know, it was a very tough thing for PJ and his mom, PJ’s wife Kelly, because FC Dallas came recruiting him and his dream was to play soccer professionally and maybe in Europe and all that. And so, FC Dallas literally came and recruited him, came to their house and it was just a very challenging thing because he was going to be going off in the eighth grade to this place developing.

“And so he’s been living in Dallas, literally since the eighth grade. And it’s amazing. So, I’m the only person on the planet that knew because he could bomb it 45 to 50 yards in the eighth grade. No one really knew because he has not played football. But he comes around and gets out there and plays around and kicks the ball and this and that. I mean it’s been amazing to watch him develop."