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Replies: 41
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Game Changer [1835]
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Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 9:12 PM
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Best overall all things considered
1-ETN
2-Allen
3-Spiller
4-Gallman
5-Flagler
6-Flowers
7-Priester
8-Davis
9-Austin
10-Kevin Mack
11-McSwain
12 /Rubber Duck ?? Brown
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Ultimate Tiger [34041]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 9:35 PM
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Flip 4 & 7 and add McFadden, Cone, Gore,
Austin, Zachery, Ellington
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Orange Blooded [2490]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 11:07 PM
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Aagree on Ellington, but I dont think Zach belongs there.
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Solid Orange [1385]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 7:37 AM
[ in reply to Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order ] |
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As always these lists never go back before 1975 and rightfully so cause most of these guys in here Probly weren’t around then. Never saw Fred Cone but he’s got to be on there. Would love to see what Buddy Gore could have done with today’s training methods and nutrition. When I was in school in the 70s to my knowledge there was very little weight training equipment available to the players. Lot of them lifted with us in the Weight Club in the basement of one of the Frat houses.
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Associate AD [832]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 9:41 PM
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1. Spiller
2. ETN
3. Allen
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Freshman [-94]
TigerPulse: 68%
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I would put Spiller first also.
Aug 23, 2021, 2:22 PM
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He was sharing carries with the quarterback and Davis.
Then again, ETN probably averaged around 13 carries a game and has by far the best YPC in Clemson history. Very close to the NCAA career record actually!
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All-American [555]
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Re: I would put Spiller first also.
Aug 23, 2021, 4:27 PM
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This would be my order, but really close on 1 and 2. Return man fireworks puts Spiller slightly ahead for me. Granted, that's not necessarily relevant to comparing RBs, but it's part of the overall picture.
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Legend [6777]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 10:07 PM
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Spiller should be number 1 on anyone's list. He literally carried this team on his back with very average QB's. He could have left for the NFL a year earlier and still been a first round pick and played his final year. ETN was a great running back but Spiller was not only a great RB but a great All Purpose back. Now he's back at Clemson as a coach and has been a great ambassador for the University:
If you need an intangible to be a tie breaker try this:
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Orange Phenom [14588]
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Spiller was incredible but I think I would take Travis #1
Aug 23, 2021, 1:20 AM
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I expect opinions will be split close to 50/50 on those two.
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Team Captain [492]
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All-Pro [716]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 10:27 PM
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I can only speak to my lifetime:
1. Spiller
2. Etienne
3. Allen
4. Davis
5. Gallman
6. Ellington
7. Priester
8. Flowers
9. Flagler
10. Zachary
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All-TigerNet [10134]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 11:06 PM
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I don’t care what anybody says. Reggie Merriweather was one of my all time favorite tigers. There was several games of not for him we wouldn’t walk off with a win. He is the sole reason I blame Tommy Bowden for the Loss to the coots. He had all momentum in the world and Tommy takes him out of the game! He had a walk off win against Miami and if I recall correctly Maryland!
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Team Captain [492]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 3:21 PM
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Have to agree with this. Reggie had a punishing running style. He was killing the coots that game. I’ve never understood why they took him out.
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Team Captain [492]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 3:21 PM
[ in reply to Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order ] |
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Have to agree with this. Reggie had a punishing running style. He was killing the coots that game. I’ve never understood why they took him out.
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Offensive Star [310]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 25, 2021, 8:51 AM
[ in reply to Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order ] |
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I agree about taking Reggie out of the coot game . I was so pissed off that I left the game
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Orange Blooded [2517]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 11:29 PM
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I think we have to consider that past tigers okayed a maximum of 12 games a season. Current players play 14 or 15 (if in CFP final). That equates to 8-12 more games over a 4-year career (almost an extra season).
Even teams that do not do well, play 4 more games (1 per season)
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Orange Blooded [2517]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 11:30 PM
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“Played”, not “okayed”
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Dynasty Maker [3350]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 22, 2021, 11:47 PM
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Pat Crain and Buddy Gore.
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Tiger Titan [50729]
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Terry Allen is the best in my book.
Aug 23, 2021, 1:10 AM
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Etienne and Spiller after that.
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Orange Immortal [67135]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 1:15 AM
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Top 5
Spiller
Etienne
Allen
Priester
Davis
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Game Changer [1645]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 6:06 AM
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I know WOODY DANTZLER is not in this group but you held your breath every time Woody took off running- and so did opposing defenses!
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National Champion [8014]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 7:21 AM
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You can't leave Ray Yauger off the list.
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Ultimate Tiger [33645]
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Ronald Williams***
Aug 23, 2021, 7:34 AM
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Valley Legend [12642]
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Re: Ronald Williams***
Aug 23, 2021, 9:50 AM
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Beat me to it. IF he had stayed his senior year he would have been an All American.
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National Champion [7998]
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Terry Allen had speed and power. Best all-time RB out of
Aug 23, 2021, 9:09 AM
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Clemson. Then ETN/Spiller are neck and neck. Had Spiller had ETN's team he probably would've won the Heisman...so thats a tough one.
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Rival Killer [2847]
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Etienne HAS to be #1
Aug 23, 2021, 9:44 AM
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The ACC record book speaks for itself:
Most Career Rush TDs:
1 - Travis Etienne 70
2 - James Connor 52
Most Career Rush Yards:
1 - Travis Etienne 4,952
2 - Ted Brown 4,602 (1975-1978)
Most Rush Yards/Att (min 300 rush)
1 - Travis Etienne 7.2
2 - Warrick Dunn 6.9
Most Career Rush Attempts
1 - Amos Lawrence 881
23 - Travis Etienne 686
Most Career Scrim TDs:
1 - Travis Etienne 78
2 - James Connor 56
Most Career Scrim Yards:
1 - Travis Etienne 6,107
2 - Dalvin Cook 5,399
Most Career Plays from Scrim:
1 - Leon Johnson 948
18 - Travis Etienne 788
Travis didn't just break these records, he OBLITERATED them. Ted Brown's career rushing yards record stood for 42 years before Travis dropped another 350 on top. And as we know, Etienne was not a workhorse: note the number of rushes and plays from scrimmage I included. That proves his stat sheet was not the product of more games or more rushes, he was just that freakishly efficient. Yeah, Etienne may not have carried the team quite as much as some other guys, but he played in four CFP Playoffs, two National Championships, and scored three TDs in a blowout win over Alabama in one of them, with nine total CFP TDs. His teams went further than anyone else's and he delivered when they got there.
I love CJ Spiller. He's a Clemson and ACC legend with an untouchable all-purpose yards record (it's basically set in stone with the rule changes) and the KOR TD record and I'm thrilled that he's back coaching with the team. But it's not his name written on half the pages of the ACC record book. It's the quiet kid from Jennings, Louisiana who decided to come to Clemson at the last second.
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Commissioner [1238]
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Re: Etienne HAS to be #1
Aug 25, 2021, 1:10 PM
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Wow! Based on these statistics, ETN numero uno and everyone else far behind. But Spiller and Allen were special too. Wish Allen had remained more injury free.
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Rival Killer [2770]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 11:19 AM
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Marvin Simms . . full back I know. But he never had a negative yardage play.
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CU Medallion [18903]
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Hard to narrow it down! I will go with a top-15 of:
Aug 23, 2021, 1:50 PM
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Etienne
Allen
Spiller
Priester
Gallman
Davis
McFadden
Flowers
Zachery
Ellington
Flagler
Austin
Brown
Cone
Dantzler
You can argue the order of the top 3 for sure. Different strengths and weaknesses. Priester and Gallman seem to be next. There rest: any order works for me! Do think that Woody gets in there at 15 with his crazy numbers. Fun to think about!
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Dynasty Maker [3483]
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As Pure RB, I'd have ETN #1
Aug 23, 2021, 2:34 PM
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As all-purpose player (including PR and KOR) I'd have Spiller #1
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Rival Killer [2847]
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Even with the kick returns,
Aug 23, 2021, 3:13 PM
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Etienne scored 27 more TDs than Spiller. That's a bigger advantage than all-purpose yards, imo. Personally, I don't think it's even close: Etienne is the best RB in not just Clemson but ACC history.
And can I say, what an awesome argument this is lol. Two generational talents within 15 years.
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All-American [555]
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Re: Even with the kick returns,
Aug 23, 2021, 4:32 PM
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ETN played on much better teams, and in much better schemes, than Spiller. ETN records speak for themselves, but if I had to pick one or the other, in their prime, Spiller's return skills puts him over the top for me.
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Associate AD [1051]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 3:27 PM
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Position lists always generate good conversation. However, offensive schemes and RB position have evolved tremendously over the years.
Before I move on, CJ Spiller is the best football player in the history of Clemson. Every time he touched the ball, you stood up to watch the fireworks.
Side-Comments
1) Allen, Priester, Flowers, Driver, Gallman, Ellington, Davis, Austin, McSwain, Mack were more old-school running backs. It is probably fair to compare these RBs .
2) I loved watching Travis Etienne play. Dynamic runner that developed into a big-time receiver during his career.
3) Can you imagine Spiller's production with our offensive line and scheme from the last 8 years?
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All-American [555]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 4:34 PM
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^ this
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Varsity [202]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 3:51 PM
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Smiley Sanders was a great back on some bad teams. Good at baseball too.
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TigerNet Elite [71036]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 23, 2021, 3:54 PM
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I believe you've about got it covered. I might move a few around, but they are all pretty much there. I always thought Cliff Austin was one of the best in the Danny Ford era.
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TigerNet Immortal [176593]
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Terry Allen first. Spiller somewhere around 9 or 10.***
Aug 23, 2021, 4:35 PM
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Clemson Conqueror [11399]
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You've got to be kidding!! Spiller 9 or 10??***
Aug 23, 2021, 9:02 PM
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Game Day Hero [4524]
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Re: Terry Allen first. Spiller somewhere around 9 or 10.***
Aug 23, 2021, 9:22 PM
[ in reply to Terry Allen first. Spiller somewhere around 9 or 10.*** ] |
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As I think about it, I would also go:
1) Allen (Speed and Power)
2) ETN (More speed, some power)
3) Spiller (Most speed, very little power)
4) Gallman (Workhorse)
5) Flagler (another old school workhorse)
6) Priester (Yall wonder what other would do in the current offense? that dude was THE whole offense for West and defenses had no question what was coming.
7-99 Plenty of good backs bit all of these were special.
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CU Medallion [18179]
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Ronald Williams should make the Top 10 in front of Mack,
Aug 23, 2021, 7:15 PM
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McSwain and Brown...He should probably be in front of Cliff as well
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Heisman Winner [86007]
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At least in terms of historical impact on the program, I
Aug 25, 2021, 7:51 AM
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would have to rank James Davis higher than #8. Without him coming first, I don't think we land CJ Spiller. And, Spiller is no doubt the "bridge" from bad Clemson teams to a much brighter future down the road.
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National Champion [7838]
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Re: Best Clemson RB’s ever listed in order
Aug 25, 2021, 8:37 AM
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I can only reference the players that I watched
1. Spiller
2. Etienne
3. Gallman
4. Ellington
5. J Davis
6. J Harper
7. C Jasmin
8. R Merriweather
9. T Feaster
10. R McDowell
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Replies: 41
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