Adams Named First-Team Associated Press All-American

by Press Release - Tue Dec 12 19:12:53 GMT-04:00 2006

Clemson, SC-Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams was named to the first-team Associated Press All-America team on Tuesday. Adams was one of just three ACC players named to the team, as he joined Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Boston College offensive lineman Josh Beekman.

Clemson offensive guard Nathan Bennett was named a third-team AP All-American as an offensive guard.

Adams, a senior from Greenwood, SC, is the first Clemson player to make first-team Associated Press All-American since Keith Adams (no relation to Gaines) in 2000. He is the first defensive end in Clemson history to make first-team AP All-American.

With the selection on Tuesday, Adams has now been named first-team All-American according to the Walter Camp Foundation, the American Football Coaches Association, the Football Writers Association of American and the Associated Press. Adams is guaranteed of being a consensus All-American for 2006 as he has been named to four of the five major teams recognized by the NCAA record book. The Sporting News will name its All-America team on Wednesday.

If Adams is selected he will become the first unanimous All-American from Clemson since Terry Kinard in 1982 and just the second in school history.

Adams led the ACC and ranked ninth in the nation in quarterback sacks this year with 10.5, tied for the second most in a season in Clemson history. He currently has 26 career sacks, trailing just Michael Dean Perry (28) and William Perry (27). He had

56 tackles this year, including 15.5 tackles for loss, had three recovered fumbles and two caused fumbles.

During the season he had a streak of eight consecutive games in which he recorded a sack, an all-time Clemson record. He had six pass deflections, two of which led directly to interceptions, including one that was returned 82 yards for a touchdown by teammate Jock McKissic against South Carolina.

Adams was named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award (top defensive player in the nation) and the Ted Hendrick Award (top defensive end in the nation) and was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award. He was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Bennett, a senior from Dallas, GA, is the first Clemson offensive lineman to make an Associated Press All-America team since Jim

Bundren was a third team selection in 1997. Kyle Young was an

All-American on many teams in 2000 and 2001, but never made the Associated Press team.

Bennett was a major factor in Clemson leading the ACC and ranking fifth in the nation in rushing in 2006. Bennett led the team in knockdown blocks with 91.5 and was Clemson's highest rated offensive linemen in five of the last six games. He was named the ACC Offensive Linemen of the Week for his 90 percent grade and 10 knockdown blocks in the Tigers 31-7 win over Georgia Tech. He was also named first-team All-ACC.

Clemson's First Team Associated Press All-Americans

Year Name Pos

1939 Banks McFadden B

1959 Lou Cordileone L

1974 Bennie Cunningham TE

1978 Jerry Butler WR

1979 Jim Stuckey DT

1981 Terry Kinard FS

1982 Terry Kinard FS

1987 David Treadwell PK

1990 Stacy Long OT

1991 Jeb Flesch OG