Clemson Tigers vs. MT Notes |
Clemson Tigers vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Clemson Tigers
Record, 2008............................................7-6 (4-4 ACC)
Location.......................................................Clemson, SC
Colors......................Burnt Orange and Northwest Purple
Enrollment.............................................................18.317
Athletic Director..............................Dr. Terry Don Phillips
Head Coach......................Dabo Swinney, Alabama ‘93
Clemson Record/1st full year as head coach..............4-3
Home Record...........................................................2-1
Away Record............................................................2-1
Neutral Record.........................................................0-1
ACC Record.............................................................3-2
Career Record/1st full season....................................4-3
Record against Middle Tennessee..............................0-0
Offensive Coordinator.....................................Billy Napier
Defensive Coordinator..................................Kevin Steele
Middle Tennessee
Record, 2008..............................................................5-7
Location................................................Murfreesboro, TN
Colors............................................Royal Blue and White
Enrollment.............................................................23,872
Athletic Director.........................................Chris Massaro
Head Coach............... Rick Stockstill (Florida St, ‘82)
School Record/4th season.....................................17-20
Overall (4th year)..................................................17-20
Record against Clemson.............................................0-0
Offensive Coordinator..................................Tony Franklin
Defensive Coordinator...................................Manny Diaz
Football SID..................................................Mark Owens
Website:............................................GoBlueRaiders.com
Game 1: Clemson vs. Middle Tennessee
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Kickoff: 6:02 PM
Clemson Memorial Stadium (81,500)
Frank Howard Field
Television: None
Internet: ESPN 360
Clemson Radio Network
Announcers: Pete Yanity, Will Merritt, Patrick Sapp
Series History:
Clemson leads 1-0
Previous Meeting:
Clemson 37-14 at Clemson, 2003
Tickets: Available (1-800-CLEMSON)
2008 Final STANDINGS
Atlantic Division
Team ACC Home Away Over
Boston College 5-3 5-2 3-1 9-5
Florida State 5-3 2-2 3-1 9-4
Clemson 4-4 5-2 2-2 7-6
Maryland 4-4 6-1 1-4 8-5
Wake Forest 4-4 5-2 2-3 8-5
NC State 4-4 4-3 2-3 6-7
Coastal Division
Virginia Tech 5-3 6-0 2-3 10-4
Georgia Tech 5-3 6-1 3-2 9-4
North Carolina 4-4 5-2 3-2 8-5
Miami (FL) 4-4 4-2 3-3 7-6
Virginia 3-5 4-3 1-4 5-7
Duke 1-7 3-4 1-4 4-8
This week's ACC Games
September 3, 2009
South Carolina at NC State ESPN 7:30
September 5, 2009
Jacksonville State at Georgia Tech 1:00 PM
Northeastern a Boston College 2:00 PM
Baylor at Wake Forest ABC 3:30 PM
Middle Tennessee at Clemson 6:00 PM
The Citadel at North Carolina 6:00 PM
William & Mary at Virginia 6:00 PM
Richmond at Duke 7:00 PM
Virginia Tech vs. Alabama ABC 8:00 PM
Mayland at California ESPN2 10:00 PM
Next week's ACC Games
September 10, 2009
Clemson at Georgia Tech ESPN 7:30 PM
September 12, 2009
Stanford at Wake Forest Ray Noon
Marshall at Virginia Tech 1:30 PM
Kent State at Boston College 2:00 PM
TCU at Virginia ESPNU 3:30 PM
Jacksonville State at FSU 6:00 PM
James Madison at Maryland 6:00 PM
Murray State at NC State 6:00 PM
Duke at Army TBA
North Carolina at UCONN TBA
Clemson Pronunciations
#93 DaQuan Bowers DAY-Kwahn
##18 Crezdon Butler KREZ-don
#34 Tarik Rollins TAHR-ihk
#Dabo Swinney DAH bo SWEE knee
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Associated Press Top 25
(Preseason)
Rk School (First Place) W-L Pts LW
1. Florida (58) 0-0 1498 1
2. Texas (2) 0-0 1424 4
3. Oklahoma 0-0 1370 5
4. Southern Cal 0-0 1313 3
5. Alabama 0-0 1156 6
6. Ohio State 0-0 1113 9
7. Virginia Tech 0-0 1054 15
8. Mississippi 0-0 1047 14
9. Oklahoma State 0-0 989 16
Penn State 0-0 989 8
11. LSU 0-0 914 NR
12 California 0-0 746 NR
13. Georgia 0-0 714 13
14. Boise State 0-0 659 11
15. Georgia Tech 0-0 593 22
16. Oregon 0-0 587 10
17. TCU 0-0 521 7
18. Florida State 0-0 307 21
19 Utah 0-0 289 2
20. BYU 0-0 267 25
21. North Carolina 0-0 261 NR
22. Iowa 0-0 229 20
23. Notre Dame 0-0 225 NR
24. Nebraska 0-0 207 NR
25. Kansas 0-0 134 NR
Others: Oregon State 122, Illinois 105, Pittsburgh 103, Michigan State 100, Rutgers 83, Texas Tech 76, West
Virginia 57, Cincinnati 44, Clemson 42, Miami (FL) 40, East Carolina 30, Tennessee 15, Arizona 13, North Carolina
State 10, Boston College 9, Central Michigan 7, Auburn 7, UCLA 7, Northwestern 5, South Florida 3, Southern Miss
3, Vanderbilt 3, Missouri 3,South Carolina 2, Nevada 1, Arkansas 1, Houston 1, Troy 1, Tulsa 1
USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Coaches Poll
(Preseason)
Rk. Team (1st place) Rec Pts. Prv
1. Florida (53) 0-0 1466 1
2. Texas (4) 0-0 1386 3
3. Oklahoma (1) 0-0 1358 5
4. Southern Cal 0-0 1321 2
5. Alabama 0-0 1134 6
6. Ohio State 0-0 1126 11
7. Virginia Tech 0-0 1020 14
8. Penn State 0-0 988 8
9. LSU 0-0 917 NR
10. Mississippi 0-0 889 15
11. Oklahoma State 0-0 861 18
12. California 0-0 711 25
13. Georgia 0-0 707 10
14. Oregon 0-0 694 9
15. Georgia Tech 0-0 559 22
16. Boise State 0-0 542 13
17. TCU 0-0 461 7
18. Utah 0-0 404 4
19. Florida State 0-0 371 23
20. North Carolina 0-0 293 NR
21. Iowa 0-0 257 20
22. Nebraska 0-0 236 NR
23. Notre Dame 0-0 194 NR
24. BYU 0-0 178 21
25. Oregon State 0-0 165 19
Others: Kansas 138, Michigan State 136, Texas Tech 114, Cincinnati 90, Pittsburgh 64, West Virginia
55, Rutgers 51, Miami (FL) 46, Missouri 44, Illinois 38, Clemson 30, South Carolina 18, UCLA 14, Auburn 12,
South Florida 11, Nevada 11, Kentucky 9, NC State 7, Wisconsin 6, Arkansas 6, Northwestern 5, Southern Miss
4, Wake Forest 4, Arizona 3, Boston College 3, Central Michigan 3, East Carolina 3, Colorado 2, Maryland 2,
Navy 2, Tennessee 2, Troy 1, Minnesota 1, Michigan 1, Houston 1
Clemson Personnel Update
J.K. Jay (OT)--Freshman who had season ending back surgery in August.
Stanley Hunter (LB)--Retired from football due to epilepsy
Jamaal Medlin (DT)--Retired from football due to knee micro fracture.
Jacoby Ford (WR)--Bothered by hamstring injury during the fall, but will play in season opener.
Brandon Ford (WR)--Foot injury suffered in August practice. Probable for Middle Tennessee.
Middle Tennessee Came to Clemson in 2003
This will be just the second time Clemson has faced Middle Tennessee in its history.
The only previous meeting took place in 2003 when the Tigers downed the Blue Raiders by a
37-14 score at Death Valley. Clemson's offense gained 481 yards that day, 298 passing and 183 rushing.
Charlie Whitehurst led the Clemson offense by completing 23 of 28 passes for 298
yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 41 yards on nine carries in one of his finest
all-around games as a four-year starter under center for the Tigers. Airese Currie set a Clemson
single game record for receptions that still stands today as he caught 12 passes for 133
yards and a touchdown. Derrick Hamilton had two touchdown receptions and caught four for 78 yards overall.
Jamaal Fudge led the Clemson defense with 17 tackles, while John Leake added 12. Travis Pugh had an
interception and Leroy Hill had nine tackles and two tackles for loss.
Clemson in Season Openers
Clemson has won 19 of its last 25 season openers. That includes a 6-4 record the
last 10 years when Clemson has played its most challenging season opening games. Clemson
has lost three of its last seven season opening games, but all three were to top 25 teams, twice
to Georgia (2002 and 2003) and last year to Alabama. Clemson has played five openers against
top 25 teams in the last 10 years after having played just five top 25 teams in opening games
total between 1936 (first year of the AP poll) and 1999.
Clemson has had some exciting season openers in recent years. In 2004 against Wake
Forest, Clemson won a thrilling 37-30 overtime victory in a game that was televised by ABC.
It gave Clemson an 8-2-1 record against ACC teams in season openers. Clemson won at
home in 2005 in thrilling fashion, a 25-24, win over 17th ranked Texas A&M on a 42-yard field
goal by Jad Dean with two seconds left. Clemson also beat a 19th ranked Florida State team in
the season opener of 2007.
The Tigers are 83-22-8 (.770), regardless of site, in their first game of the season in
the previous 113 seasons. Even though this is the 114th season of Clemson football, Clemson
has had just 108 home openers in its history because ive seasons Clemson did not play a game
at home. In the 108 home openers Clemson has an 83-17-8 record against 33 different opponents.
Tigers to Honor Hunter by Wearing #17
Prior to the beginning of this season it was determined that sophomore linebacker
Stanley Hunter would have to give up football due to his continuing battle with epilepsy. The
native of Spartanburg, SC and former linebacker at Byrnes High School, had a solid freshman
year when he had 37 tackles in just 158 defensive snaps. His average of one tackle for every
4.27 snaps, led the team in terms of fewest plays per tackle.
But during spring practice and over the summer, he had repeated spells that led to his
retirement from the game. Hunter is still involved with the program as a student coach and hopes
to go into the coaching profession.
Hunter is very popular among his teammates. As a result various players have come to
Coach Dabo Swinney and asked that they wear his jersey number 17 in his honor during the season.
For the season opener, fellow linebacker Brandon Maye, who normally wears number-
20, will wear number 17 for the season opener against Middle Tennessee. Quarterback Willy
Korn, who played at Byrnes High with Hunter, will wear number-17 for the Georgia Tech game.
The plan is to have a different Tiger wear number 17 each game this year.
Spiller and Ford on Preseason All-ACC Team
Clemson has two selections at three positions on the ACC's official preseason All-ACC team. C.J. Spiller was
named as a running back and kick returner, while Jacoby Ford was named as a wide receiver.
Spiller made first –team All-ACC as a kick returner and second-team All-ACC as a running back last year.
He was also second in the voting for preseason ACC Player-of-the-Year with 28 votes. Georgia Tech running back
Jonathan Dwyer was first with 39 votes. Ford has never been named to an All-ACC team in
football, but like Spiller he has been All-ACC in track.
Spiller had 1,770 all-purpose running yards last year to rank 21st in the nation in that
area. He had 629 yards rushing and 436 receiving in 2008 for 1065 yards from scrimmage.
Ford had 55 receptions for 710 yards and four touchdowns last year. He was second on the
team in receptions and yards behind Aaron Kelly. Ford is the only ACC player on the preseason Biletnikoff list.
As a team, the ACC media attending the annual football kickoff in Greensboro picked
Clemson second in the Atlantic Division behind Florida State. Clemson had 14 first place votes
for the Atlantic Division, while the Seminoles had 56.
Spiller Named to Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year Watch List
One of Two ACC Players on List
Clemson running back CJ. Spiller is one of 30 players on the Walter Camp Foundation
“players to watch” list for its prestigious 2009 Player of the Year award, the nation's
fourth-oldest individual college football accolade. The Walter Camp Foundation will announce 10
semifinalists in November and the recipient will be announce on ESPN on December 10. The winner will then
receive his trophy at the Foundation's annual awards banquet on January 18, 2010 at the Yale University Commons
in New Haven. The award was won by Texas quarterback Colt McCoy last year and he
is among the 30 players on the preseason list this year. Each of the 120 Division I coaches
and each of the Division I sports information directors vote on the award.
Spiller and Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer are the only two ACC players
on the list. Those two players will meet on the same field in Atlanta on September 10 when
Clemson faces Georgia Tech in a nationally televised Thursday night game on ESPN.
Spiller holds 12 Clemson records, including most touchdowns of 50 yards or more
(12) and most touchdowns of 80 yards or more (seven). He ranks ninth in Clemson history in
career rushing yards with 2,335. As a receiver he needs just 13 receptions to become the second
running back in school history with at least 100 receptions.
Spiller and Dwyer were both named to the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list.
Walter Camp Player of the Year “Watch List”
Jahvid Best, RB, Junior, California
Arrelious Benn, WR, Junior, Illinois
Eric Berry, DB, Junior, Tennessee
Sam Bradford, QB, Junior, Oklahoma
LaGarrette Blount, RB, Senior, Oregon
Dez Bryant, WR, Junior, Oklahoma State
Daryll Clark, QB, Senior, Penn State
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Junior, Georgia Tech
Mardy Gilyard, WR, Senior, Cincinnati
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Senior, Oklahoma
Max Hall, QB, Senior, Brigham Young
Tim Hiller, QB, Senior, Western Michigan
Jerry Hughes, DE, Senior, TCU
Kendell Hunter, RB, Junior, Oklahoma State
MiQuale Lewis, RB, Senior, Ball State
Taylor Mays, DB, Senior, USC
Colt McCoy, QB, Senior, Texas
Kellen Moore, QB, Sophomore, Boise State
Todd Reesing, QB, Senior, Kansas
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Sophomore, Oregon St.
Evan Royster, RB, Senior, Penn State
George Selvie, DE, Senior, South Florida
Jordan Shipley, WR, Senior, Texas
Rusty Smith, QB, Senior, Florida Atlantic
Jevan Snead, QB, Junior, Mississippi
Brandon Spikes, LB, Senior, Florida
C.J. Spiller, RB, Senior, Clemson
Golden Tate, WR, Junior, Notre Dame
Tim Tebow, QB, Senior, Florida
Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Senior, Missouri
Freshman Parker to Start at QB
Kyle Parker is slated to be Clemson's starting quarterback in the season opener against Middle Tennessee on
September 5. It will not only be Parker's first game as a starter, but it will be the first time he has played
in a varsity game. Parker came to Clemson in January of 2008 and has been through two Spring
practices and the 2008 regular season when he red-shirted.
If Parker starts the season opener, he will be the first freshman to start the
season opener at quarterback for the Tigers since 1945 when Bobby Gage started as the
single wing tailback against Presbyterian. The single wing tailback was really the quarterback
in that offense. Gage, who went on to become an All-American in 1948, had a great
performance in that first game as a freshman, as he completed 3-4 for 61 yards and had eight
rushes for 144 yards and two touchdowns, including an 88-yard run that is still fifth longest
run from scrimmage in Clemson history.
The last time the Clemson starting quarterback in the season opener had not
previously taken a snap in a varsity game was in 1974. That year Mike O'Cain made the start in
the season opener at Texas A&M. O'Cain had red-shirted the 1972 season, then did not appear in a game in 1973.
The last time Clemson started a freshman at quarterback was just last year when Willy
Korn started against Georgia Tech. The Tigers lost that game, 21-17. Korn played sparingly as
he was injured in the first quarter while throwing a pass. The last time Clemson won a game in
which a freshman started at quarterback was in 2002 when then red-shirt freshman Charlie
Whitehurst quarterbacked Clemson to a 27-20 win over South Carolina.
Clemson has started a freshman at quarterback over the course of the season just
five previous seasons. Doc McFadden started as a freshman in 1906, Butch Butler in 1942
(single wing tailback), Willie Jordan in 1975, Rodney Williams in 1985 and Nealon Greene
in 1994. Butler was the only freshman to start every game at quarterback for the course of a season.
Whitehurst, now with the San Diego Chargers, started five games as a freshman in
2002 (3-2 record), but the starter for the course of that season was Willie Simmons, who started
eight that year. Simmons will be on the opposing sidelines for the season opener as an assistant
coach with Middle Tennessee.
Parker Has Experience…in Baseball
While Kyle Parker has never taken a snap in a college football game, he has plenty of
experience as a varsity athlete. Parker has been a starter on the Clemson baseball team each of
the last two years. The native of Jacksonville, FL has played in 120 games in his Clemson
baseball career, 115 as a starting outfielder and DH.
He has 26 career home runs in those 120 games. He hit 25 in his first 103 games,
the fewest games needed to reach 25 career home runs in Clemson history. He was named
first-team All-ACC as a DH in 2008 when he batted .303 with 14 home runs. In 2009 he helped
Clemson to the Super Regional of the NCAA Tournament with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs.
His two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning of the third and decisive game, gave the
Tigers a 6-5 victory over Oklahoma State on June 1 and a trip to the Super Regional.
Strong Clemson Contingent at Middle Tennessee
Saturday is not Homecoming, but it could be billed that way based on Clemson's opponent.
Middle Tennessee is led by Head Coach Rick Stockstill, who served as an assistant coach
at Clemson from 1989-2002 and he has hired nine coaches and staff members who have some
connection to Clemson on their resumes.
Stockstill coached at Clemson under four coaches from 1989-02. He is the only
coach in Clemson history to serve under four different head coaches. He worked under
Danny Ford in 1989, Ken Hatfield from 1990-93, Tommy West from 1994-97 and Tommy Bowden
from 1999-2002. Jeff Scott is Clemson's current wide receivers coach and Stockstill was his position
coach his entire playing career at Clemson. Stockstill also recruited Brian Dawkins, who will
be inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame at the Middle Tennessee game.
His 14 years of service as an assistant rank sixth most in school history. Bob Jones
worked for 30 years under Frank Howard from 1940-69 and that is the record.
Stockstill is just the fifth former Clemson assistant coach to later bring a team
to Death Valley as a head coach, the first to do it since Tom Moore with The Citadel in 1986.
AP McLeod was the first to do it. He was an assistant at Clemson in 1927, then led Furman
into Death Valley in 1942, the first year of Memorial Stadium. Bobby Johnson was an assistant
coach at Clemson in 1993, then brought Furman to Clemson three times (1994, 1996 and 1998).
Art Baker is the only other former Clemson assistant to bring a team to Death Valley as head
coach. The previous four coaches to do it are a combined 0-6.
As you can see by the chart below, four of Middle Tennessee's assistant coaches
served at Clemson, including two who are Clemson graduates. Willie Simmons and Justin
Watts are Clemson graduates on the Middle Tennessee staff. Simmons was a quarterback for the Tigers from 1999-02.
He was the backup quarterback to Woody Dantzler in 2000 and 2001, then the starter in 2002. He threw for four
touchdown passes off the bench in Clemson's win at North Carolina in 2000. He was also a graduate assistant on
Tommy Bowden's coaching staff in 2006. Justin Watts is the only Clemson football player in the last 50 years to
earn five letters. He was a wide receiver for the Tigers from 1996-2000 and 51 career catches.
David Bibee and Les Herrin are two more assistants who also coached at Clemson. Bibee was an assistant with
the Clemson program from 1997-98 and Herrin served the Tigers program for 14 years, including the 1981 National
Championship season.
Middle Tennessee Ties to Clemson
Middle Tennessee Staff Member At Clemson
Rick Stockstill, Head Coach Assistant Coach 1989-2002
Willie Simmons, Assistant Coach Clemson player, 1999-2002
Graduate Assistant, 2006
David Bibee, Assistant Coach Assistant coach, 1997-98
Les Herrin, Assistant Head Coach Assistant coach, 1981-84, 1989-98
Justin Watts, Assistant Coach Clemson player 1996-00, GA 2001-02
Andy Vaughan, Asst Dir. FB Opps Admin GA, 2003-05
Robbie Stewart, Head FB Trainer Assistant FB Trainer, 2001-08
Russell Patterson, Strength Coach Asst Strength Coach, 2000-03
Troy Johnson, Equipment Manager Student Manager, 2000-04
Former Clemson Assistant Coaches against Clemson in Death Valley
Coach School Year Rec in DV CU Yrs
Art Baker The Citadel 1978 0-1 1965-69
Bobby Johnson Furman 1994-98 0-3 1993
A.P. McLeod Furman 1942 0-1 1927
Tom Moore The Citadel 1986 0-1 1971-78
Rick Stockstill Middle Tennessee 2009 ?? 1989-02
DV—Death Valley
Longest Assistant Coaching Tenures in Clemson History
Coach *Position Years Years Coaches
Bob Jones Ends 1940-69 30 1
Banks McFadden DB 1941, 1946-69 25 1
Goat McMillan Backs 1937-41, 1946-64 24 2
Bob Smith DL/LB 1950-69 20 1
Whitey Jordan Backs 1959-72, 1993 15 3
Rick Stockstill WR 1989-02 14 4
Les Herrin LB/DL 1981-84. 1989-98 14 3
Larry Vanderhayden OL 1979-92 14 2
Rock Norman Fresh 1940-42, 1946-54 12 1
Chuck Reedy Backs 1978-89 12 2
Brad Scott OL 1999-09 11 2
Ron West OL/DL 1999-08 10 1
*Predominant positions
Clemson Opening Day Individual Records:
Total Offense: 303 by Charlie Whitehurst vs. Wake Forest, 2004
Rushing Yards: 204 by Buck George vs. Presbyterian, 1952
Passing Yards: 288 by Charlie Whitehurst vs. Wake Forest, 2004
Pass Attempts: 41 vs. Charlie Whitehurst vs. Wake Forest, 2004
Pass Completions: 23 by Brandon Streeter vs. Marshall, 1999
Completion Percentage: .941 (16-17) by Woodrow Dantzler vs. The Citadel, 2000
Passing Efficiency: 247.1 by Woodrow Dantzler vs. The Citadel, 2000
Receptions: 11 by Rod Gardner vs. Marshall, 1999
Reception Yards: 152 (9 receptions) by Airese Currie vs. Wake Forest, 2004
All Purpose Yards: 246 by Buck George vs. Presbyterian vs. Presbyterian, 1952
Field Goals: 6 by Jad Dean vs. Texas A&M, 2005
Tackles: 18 by Jeff Davis vs. Rice, 1980
18 by Chad Carson vs. The Citadel, 2000
18 by Kavell Conner vs. Alabama, 2008
Chancellor and Butler Named to Thorpe Preseason Watch List
Clemson cornerbacks Chris Chancellor and Crezdon Butler are two of the 31 preseason candidates for the Jim Thorpe
Award. Three finalist for the award will be named in late Thanksgiving, and the winner will be announced in
December on ESPN at the College Football Awards Show in Orlando.
Clemson is one of just four schools nationally with two defensive backs named to the list. Florida,
North Carolina and Virginia Tech are the other three schools with that distinction. Clemson is the only school
in the nation with both of its starting cornerbacks on the list. The ACC is obviously strong when it comes to
outstanding defensive backs, as three of the four schools with two players apiece are from the ACC. Overall there
are eight ACC defensive backs on the list.
Clemson has had one finalist for the award in Tye Hill (2005). The award did not exist the year Terry Kinard was
named the National Defensive Player of the Year by CBS Sports (1982).
Chancellor and Butler have combined for 18 interceptions in their careers, 10 for Butler and eight by Chancellor.
That is the most by any combination in the ACC. Butler has 10 career interceptions for 196 yards and needs just
80 interception return yards to become Clemson's all-time leader. Chancellor has eight career thefts for 83 yards.
The duo has started together in the Clemson secondary each of the last 26 games.
The Clemson record for interceptions by a defensive back duo in the same class is 26. Fred Knoebel had 15 and
classmate Pete Cook had 11 between 1950-52.
Clemson has been outstanding in terms of pass defense since Chancellor and Butler have been in the starting
lineup. Clemson has ranked in the top 20 in the nation in pass defense, pass efficiency defense, scoring defense
and total defense each of the last two years. The Tigers were 11th in the nation in interceptions last year.
ACC Players on the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Name Cl School
Morgan Burnett Jr. Georgia Tech
Kendric Burey Jr. North Carolina
Crezdon Butler Sr. Clemson
Chris Chancellor Sr Clemson
Kam Chancellor Sr. Virginia Tech
Ras-I Dowling Jr. Virginia
Stephen Virgil Sr. Virginia Tech
Deunta Williams Jr. North Carolina
Career Interception Leaders, Active ACC Players
Player School Int
Crezdon Butler Clemson 10
Morgan Burnett Georgia Tech 10
Chris Chancellor Clemson 8
*Mark Herzlich Boston College 8
Patrick Robinson Florida State 7
Deunta Williams North Carolina 6
Stephan Virgil Virginia Tech 6
*Will not play in 2009
Spiller, Austin Ranked as Top Juniors at Position by Mel Kiper
Clemson running back C.J. Spiller and center Thomas Austin are both ranked as the best juniors at their respective
positions by Mel Kiper of ESPN.com.
Spiller is listed first among the running backs who will be returning for their senior seasons. James Sparks of
Buffalo is second, ,followed by LeGarrette Blount of Oregon, Charles Scott of LSU and Chris Brown of Oklahoma.
Austin is ranked first among the centers eligible for the 2010 NFL draft and is followed by Josh McNeil of
Tennessee, Matt Tennant of Boston College, Jim Cordle of Ohio State and Erik Cook of New Mexico. Austin will
not play center this year as he is Clemson's starting left guard, but many pro scouts see him as a center at the next level.
Spiller was named first-team All-ACC as a return specialist and second team as a running back for the 2008
season when he gained 1,770 all-purpose yards, best in the ACC. He finished the year with 629 yards rushing
and 436 receiving, the only ACC player with at least 600 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving last year.
Spiller needs just 921 all-purpose yards to become the ACC's career leader. He already has the Clemson record
after just three years with 4,908. The native of Lake Butler, FL has scored 30 touchdowns, fifth best in Clemson
history. He has 2,235 career rushing yards, more than any other active ACC player.
In addition to making first-team All-ACC on the field, Spiller was a first-team All-ACC academic choice after
making the Dean's List in the first semester. He is a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award, the Walter
Camp Foundation National Player of the Year and the Maxwell Award, which is also presented to the top player in
college football.
Austin was the only Clemson offensive lineman to start all 13 games last year. He led the offensive line in
plays (795) and knockdown blocks (98). He was named the ACC offensive Lineman of the Week three times, the first
Clemson offensive lineman to be honored three times in the same season since Stacy Long in 1989. The native of
Camden, SC made second-team All-ACC last year as a center and was also a first-team Academic All-ACC selection.
Tigers Have Nine Straight Winning Seasons
With its win over South Carolina in the final 2009 regular-season game, Clemson clinched its ninth consecutive
winning season.
The streak goes back to 2000 when Clemson was 9-3. The last non-winning season was 1999, Tommy Bowden's first
year when Clemson was 6-6. The last losing season was 1998 (3-8).
Entering 2008, Clemson was one of 16 teams who had a winning season every year of the 21st century. Two of the
16 (Auburn, Michigan) dropped off the list after 5-7 and 3-9 seasons, respectively. In 2008, Southern Mississippi
won its last five games, including a bowl victory, to improve to 7-6 and keep its streak alive.
The 14 schools who have had a winning season every year of this decade are Boise State, Boston College, Clemson,
Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisiana State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Southern Mississippi,
Texas, Texas Tech, and Virginia Tech. As you can see, five of the 14 on the list are from the ACC.
Spiller Ninth on Clemson Rushing List
C.J. Spiller is ninth in career rushing at Clemson with 2,335 yards on 390 carries. That is a 6.0 average,
the best in Clemson history among players with at least 1000 yards. Spiller needs 105 yards to go past
Ray Yauger on the all-time Clemson list and 665 rushing yards to become the fourth player in Clemson history
to reach 3,000. It would take a 1632-yard season for him to pass Raymond Priester and become the school's career
rushing leader.
Spiller ranks first among active ACC players in career rushing yards with those 2,335 entering the season.
He is 504 yards ahead of Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech. Those two players will be on display in the second
game of the year when Clemson plays at Georgia Tech.
It is also interesting to note that Spiller has 87 career receptions, tied for second among active ACC players.
Only wide receiver Rick Gunnell of Boston College has more, and he is tied with Clemson teammate Jacoby Ford.
Clemson Leaders in Career Rushing Yards
Rk Player Years Car. Avg. TD Yards
1. Raymond Priester 1994-97 805 4.93 21 3966
2. James Davis 2005-08 753 5.15 47 3881
3. Travis Zachery 1998-01 691 4.43 41 3058
4. Kenny Flowers 1983-86 590 4.94 26 2914
5. Terry Allen 1987-89 523 5.31 28 2778
6. Woodrow Dantzler 1998-01 591 4.67 27 2761
7. Buddy Gore 1966-68 600 4.29 15 2571
8. Ray Yauger 1968-70 555 4.39 16 2439
9. C.J. Spiller 2006-08 390 6.00 20 2335
10. Chuck McSwain 1979-82 483 4.80 23 2320
ACC Career Rushing Leaders Entering 2009
Rk Player School Yds
1. C.J. Spiller Clemson 2,335
2. Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech 1,831
3. Javarris James Miami (FL) 1,670
4. Craig Cooper Miami (FL) 1,523
5. Josh Adams Wake Forest 1,355
6. Toney Baker NC State 1,272
7. Da'Rel Scott Maryland 1,268
ACC Career Leaders in Receptions Entering 2009
Rk Player Sch Rec
1. Rich Gunnell Boston College 121
2. Jacoby Ford Clemson 87
C.J. Spiller Clemson 87
4. Sam Shields Miami (FL) 75
5. Demaryius Thomas Georgia Tech 74
6. Mikell Simpson Virginia 59
7. Donal Bowens Wake Forest 57
Butler Third in Interception Return Yards, ninth in Takeaways
Clemson cornerback Crezdon Butler enters the 2009 season with 10 career interceptions and two fumble recoveries
for 12 total career takeaways. He stands in a tie for ninth in Clemson history in that category and needs just
seven as a senior to tie Terry Kinard's Clemson record of 19, set between 1979-82. Michael Hamlin, Butler's
teammate the last three years, is second with 18 career takeaways. Hamlin is now with the Dallas Cowboys.
Butler is ranked even higher when it comes to career interception return yards. He has 196 return yards on
his 10 interceptions and needs just 80 return yards this year to become Clemson's career leader.
Clemson Leaders in Career Takeaways
Rk Player, Pos. Years Int RF Tot
1. Terry Kinard, FS 1979-82 17 2 19
2. Michael Hamlin, S 2005-08 14 4 18
3. Fred Knoebel, DB 1950-52 15 * 15
Brian Dawkins, SS 1992-95 11 4 15
5. Eddie Geathers, CB 1977-80 12 2 14
Robert O'Neal, FS 1989-92 12 2 14
Justin Miller, CB 2002-04 13 1 14
8. Dexter Davis, CB 1988-90 10 3 13
9. Crezdon Butler, CB 2006-09 10 2 12
Dennis Smith, CB 1973-75 9 3 12
Jeff Davis, LB 1978-81 4 8 12
Steve Ryan, FS 1975-78 10 2 12
Gene Beasley, SS 1985-88 10 2 12
Donnell Woolford, CB 1985-88 10 2 12
Pete Ford, CB 1993-96 11 1 12
Alex Ardley, CB 1998-00 12 0 12
Jamaal Fudge, S 2002-05 10 2 12
Career Interception Return Yards
Rk Player, Pos Years Int Avg Yards
1. Rex Varn, FS 1976-79 10 275 275
2. Michael Hamlin, S 2005-08 14 17.4 243
3. Crezdon Butler, CB 2006-09 10 19.6 196
4. Antwan Edwards, S 1995-98 8 24.4 195
5. Don Kelley, DB 1969-71 6 29.7 178
6. Alex Ardley, CB 1998-00 12 12.6 151
7. Terry Kinard, FS 1978-82 17 8.6 147
8. Johnny Rembert, LB 1981-82 8 17.9 143
9. Peter Ford, CB 1993-96 11 12.5 138
Spiller's Pursuit of ACC All-Purpose Record Begins
C.J. Spiller is already Clemson's career leader in all-purpose yardage with 4,908 and he obviously needs just
92 yards against Middle Tennessee to reach the 5,000-yard mark. He enters this season needing just 921
all-purpose yards to become the league's all-time leader. The all-time leader is currently Leon Johnson,
who played at North Carolina between 1993-96. Johnson accumulated 5,828 yards.
As you can see by the list below, Spiller is 12th in ACC history in all-purpose yards entering this season,
but needs just 107 yards to move into sixth place on the all-time list.
ACC Career All-Purpose Yardage Leaders
Rk Player School Yrs All-Pur
1. Leon Johnson N. Carolina 1993-96 5,828
2. Chris Douglas Duke 2000-03 5,748
3. Ted Brown NC State 1975-78 5,565
4. Robert Lavette Georgia Tech 1981-84 5,393
5. Warrick Dunn Florida State 1993-96 5,321
6. Don McCauley N. Carolina 1968-70 5.014
7. Frank Quayle Virginia 1966-68 4,981
8. Alvin Pearman Virginia 2002-04 4,969
9. LaMont Jordan Maryland 1997-00 4,960
10. Chris Barclay Wake Forest 2002-05 4,930
11. Amos Lawrence N. Carolina 1977-80 4,928
12. C.J. Spiller Clemson 2006-09 4,908
Spiller, May and Austin Returning Academic All-ACC
C.J. Spiller, Thomas Austin and Brandon Maye are all returning academic All-ACC players from 2008. All three
were award winners for on the field performance last year.
Spiller posted a Dean's List GPA of 3.5 in sociology for the fall semester and became the first Clemson
football player since 2000 to make the Dean's List and first-team All-ACC in the same semester. Spiller
was the first-team All-Purpose player on the All-ACC team when he led the league in all-purpose running with
1,770 yards. He has now established 10 Clemson records as he enters his senior year as one of the top returning
players in the nation regardless of position.
The last Clemson football player to make first-team All-ACC on the field and in the classroom in the same
semester was Kyle Young, a center who accomplished the feat as a junior in 2000. Spiller became the first
running back in Clemson history to accomplish the feat. He was one of four ACC players this year to make
first-team All-ACC on the field and in the classroom, joining Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich,
Maryland center Edwin Williams and Maryland punter Travis Baltz.
Austin made second-team All-ACC on the field and first-team in the classroom. The rising senior led Clemson
in knockdown blocks this past season when he started at center and guard over the course of the season.
Maye was Clemson's fourth leading tackler with 87 stops, including five tackles for loss. A red-shirt freshman,
Maye made first-team Freshman All-American according to the Football Writers Association.
Clemson Players First-team All-ACC on field and in Classroom
Year Player Pos
1957 Harvey White QB
1958 Jim Padgett T
1960 Lowndes Shingler QB
1961 Tommy King E
1970 Don Kelley E
1977 Steve Fuller QB
1978 Steve Fuller QB
1981 Tony Berryhill C
1984 Mike Eppley QB
1987 David Treadwell PK
1988 Mark Drag MG
1993 Stacy Seegars OG
1996 Jim Bundren OT
1997 Jim Bundren OT
2000 Kyle Young C
2008 C.J. Spiller RB
Spiller Third Most Explosive Player in College Football for 2009
Clemson running back C.J. Spiller is ranked as the third most explosive player in college football for the 2009
season according to Rivals.com. Spiller, a senior from Lake Butler, FL, is listed behind just Jahvid Best of
California and Dez Bryant, a wide receiver from Oklahoma
State.
Spiller was a first-team All-ACC player as a specialist last year when he led the ACC in all-purpose running
with 1770 yards. He has a Clemson record 4,908 all-purpose yards and needs just 921 to become the ACC's career
leader.
Spiller holds 12 Clemson records, including the most touchdown plays in a career of 50 yards or more with 12
and has six career touchdown plays of at least 80 yards, also a Clemson record. He has 30 career touchdowns,
fifth in school history.
Most 2009 Explosive Players in College Football by Rivals.com
Rk Player School Pos
1. Jahvid Best California RB
2. Dez Bryant Oklahoma State WR
3. C.J. Spiller Clemson RB
4. Mardy Gilyard Cincinnati WR
5. Noel Devine West Virginia RB
6. Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech RB
7. Desmond Briscoe Kansas WR
8. T.Y. Hilton Florida International WR
9. Jermaine Gresham Oklahoma TE
10. Dexter McCluster Mississippi RB
Spiller & Ford Fastest Combination in College Football
Jacoby Ford and C.J. Spiller are two of the top “home run” threats in college football in 2009 . Spiller has
12 career touchdowns of 50 yards or more, already more than any other player in school history, while Ford has
six, third-most in school history. Spiller had six as a freshman to establish a Clemson single-season record,
while Ford had four that year.
Spiller had a 96-yard kickoff return for a score in the 2008 season-opener against #24 Alabama, his third
kickoff return for a score of more than 80 yards. He added an 83-yard touchdown catch from Cullen Harper
against Duke, the longest reception by a running back in Tiger history.
In terms of plays of 80 yards or more, Spiller has seven, also a Clemson record. He is the only player in
Tiger history to record a play of 80 yards or more three different ways. Spiller had an 82-yard catch in
2006 at Boston College, an 83-yard run against #21 Auburn in the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl, an 80-yard run against
South Carolina in 2006, and two kickoff returns for scores in 2007. He had an 84-yard return for a score
against Duke and a 90-yard kickoff return for a score against Wake Forest in consecutive games in 2007.
He added the 83-yard catch against Duke in 2008.
Ford has three plays of at least 80 yards in his career. He had a 92-yard punt return against Florida
Atlantic and a 94-yard kickoff return against Louisiana Tech in 2006. He had an 82-yard kickoff return
against Central Michigan in 2007, but it did not result in a touchdown.
Both are All-Americans in track as well. Ford's career best in the 100 meters is 10.01 and Spiller's is 10.22.
Spiller's 50-Yard Touchdowns (12)
Year Opponent Type Yds
2008 Alabama KOR 96
2007 Wake Forest KOR 90
2007 Duke KOR 84
2007 Auburn Run 83
2008 Duke Catch 83
2006 Boston College Catch 82
2006 South Carolina Run 80
2006 Wake Forest Run 72
2007 Louisiana-Monroe Catch 68
2006 N.C. State Run 52
2006 Georgia Tech Catch 50
2006 Georgia Tech Run 50
Ford's 50-Yard Touchdowns (6)
Year Opponent Type Yds
2006 Louisiana Tech KOR 94
2006 Florida Atlantic PR 92
2006 South Carolina Catch 76
2006 Temple Catch 55
2007 Louisiana-Monroe Catch 52
2008 South Carolina Catch 50
Austin Three-Time ACC OL-of-the-Week
Thomas Austin was named ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week three times during the 2008 season. It marked the
second straight year a Tiger was named ACC Player-of-the-Week three times. Phillip Merling won the honor three
times as a defensive lineman in 2007. Austin was the first Tiger offensive lineman to be honored three times in
the same year since Stacy Long earned the honor three times in 1989.
Austin won the award for his performances against N.C. State, Boston College, and Virginia. He led the
offensive line in starts (13), snaps (795), average grade (81.7), and knockdown blocks (98). No other Tiger
had more than 60 knockdown blocks.
The senior from Camden, SC has won the award five times in his career, as he was the recipient against Central
Michigan and South Carolina in 2007. The five tied for third-most in school history. The record for a career
is seven, held by Keith Adams (1998-00).
Clemson Most ACC Player of the Week Awards
Rk Player Pos Years POTW
1. Keith Adams LB 1998-00 7
2. Woodrow Dantzler QB 1998-01 6
3. Thomas Austin OL 2006-09 5
Stacy Long OT 1986-90 5
Anthony Simmons LB 1995-97 5
6. Jeff Davis LB 1978-81 4
Terry Kinard FS 1978-82 4
James Robinson DT 1979-83 4
Terry Allen TB 1987-89 4
Jim Bundren OT 1994-97 4
David Richardson PK 1995-98 4
Kyle Young C 1998-01 4
Clemson Unranked in Preseason
Unlike last year, Clemson is not in the top 25 of the AP or USA Today Coaches polls. A year ago Clemson was
ninth in the preseason of both polls, but finished with a 7-6 record and was not in the final top 25.
Recent seasons tell Clemson fans it is best not to appear in the preseason top 25. Since 1994 Clemson has
been ranked in the preseason of both polls seven times. Only one of those seasons has Clemson finished in
the top 25. That one year was 2000 when Clemson was 17th in AP and 19th in USA in the preseason and finished
16th in AP and 14th in USA Today.
On the other hand, three times in the last six years Clemson has not been ranked in the preseason top 25,
but finished the year in the top 25. Those years were 2003, 2005 and 2007. So, following that odd numbered
year pattern, Clemson could be a good hunch to finish in the top 25
in 2009.
Since 1950 when the AP preseason poll began, Clemson has been ranked in the top 25 of the preseason poll
20 times. The Tigers have finished in the top 25 in just 11 of those 20 seasons, including just two of the last nine.
Since 1950, Clemson has had 11 seasons in which it was not ranked in the preseason, but finished the year
in the top 25. Eight of those 11 occasions have been odd numbered years. The all-time example was 1981 when
Clemson was unranked in the preseason polls, but won the National Championship.
Clemson has had 24 top 25 seasons overall. In 1939 and 1948 there were no preseason polls.
Years Clemson Finished in Top 25 without Preseason Ranking
Final Rank
Year Record AP-Coach
1950 9-0-1 10-10
1951 7-3 19-NR
1956 7-2-2 19-NR
1957 7-3 NR-18
1977 8-3-1 19-NR
1981 12-0 1-1
1983 9-1-1 11-PB
1986 8-2-2 17-19
2003 9-4 22-22
2005 8-4 21-21
2007 9-4 21-22
Napier Youngest Coordinator in the ACC
Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier is the youngest coordinator in the ACC and the youngest coordinator
in Clemson football history. Napier was born on July 21, 1979, which makes him 30-years-old as we start the
2009 season. The previous youngest coordinator in Clemson history was Whitey Jordan, who was Frank Howard's
offensive coordinator in 1968 at the age of 32.
Napier is the youngest coordinator on either side of the ball in the ACC by seven years. The second youngest
is Duke offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who was born on July 25, 1972. James Franklin, the offensive
coordinator at Maryland is also 37 as we start the season, but he was born on Feb. 2, 1972, so he is a few
months older than Roper. The youngest defensive coordinator in the ACC is Duke's Marion Hobby, who is
39. He was also an assistant coach at Clemson in 2005.
Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney is also the youngest head coach in the ACC. Swinney will not turn 40 until
November 20, the night before the game with Virginia. The second youngest coach in the ACC is Randy Shannon
at Miami (FL). He is 43. The two young coaches will meet in Miami on October 24.
ACC's Youngest Coordinators
Name School Off/Def DOB #Age
Billy Napier Clemson Offense 7-21-1979 30
Kurt Roper Duke Offense 7-25-1972 37
James Franklin Maryland Offense 2-2-1972 37
Steed Lobotske Wake Forest Defense 6-4-1970 39
Marion Hobby Duke Defense 11-7-1969 39
John Shoop North Carolina Offense 8-1-1969 40
Jimbo Fisher Florida State Offense 10-9-1965 43
Brad Lambert Wake Forest Defense 1-15-1965 44
Bryan Stinespring Virginia Tech Offense 10-12-1963 45
Everett Withers North Carolina Defense 6-15-1963 46
#Denotes age on September 1, 2009
Youngest ACC Head Coaches
Name School DOB Age
Dabo Swinney Clemson 11-20-1969 39
Randy Shannon Miami (FL) 2-24-1966 43
Paul Johnson Georgia Tech 8-20-1957 52
David Cutcliffe Duke 9-16-1954 54
Jim Grobe Wake Forest 2-17-1952 57
Clemson Has Four Two-sport Athletes on Football Roster
Clemson has four two-sports athletes on its football roster, including two who have been All-American and three
All-ACC in the second sport. Starting quarterback Kyle Parker is a starting outfielder and designated hitter
on the Clemson baseball team, while Jacoby Ford and C.J. Spiller are sprinters on the Clemson track team.
Spencer Adams, a reserve safety on the Tiger football team, is slated to join the Clemson track team this spring.
Parker has been a starter for the Clemson baseball team in 2008 and 2009. He has 26 career home runs and was
a first-team All-ACC selection in 2008 as a DH. He reached 25 career home runs in just 103 games, the fastest
to 25 home runs in Clemson baseball history.
Ford was the NCAA Champion in the 60 meters indoors last March at Fayetteville, AR with a time of 6.52. His
career best in that event is 6.51. His career best in the 100 meters is 10.01, a time he ran in the prelims
of the NCAA outdoor meet last year. He pulled up with a hamstring injury in the finals of the 100 meters
last June and finished ninth, but was still an All-American. Ford won 18 straight races in the 60 meters and 100
meters last year.
Spiller ran the second leg of Clemson's 4X100 meter relay last spring that finished third in the nation.
That gave him All-American honors in track. Has a personal best of 10.22 in the 100 meters and 20.91 in the
200 meters. He earned track All-America honors during the indoor season in the winter of 2008 in the 60
meters when he was the eighth best American at the meet. He also earned All-America honors in track in the spring
of 2007 as a member of the 4X100 meter relay team.
Adams red-shirted both track and football last year after he suffered a torn ACL. He won the National
Championship in the 110 hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles at the NIKE Outdoor Nationals in June of 2008.
He is a reserve safety on the football depth chart entering this year.
Alexander Will Play Two Positions
Senior Kevin Alexander is listed as a co-starter at two positions on defense on the preseason depth chart.
The native of Raiford, FL who was a high school teammate of C.J. Spiller, started 10 of the 13 games at
defensive end last year and had 34 tackles, including three tackles for loss.
This year, with the return of Ricky Sapp off the injury list, and in an effort to get the top 11 players
on the field as much as possible, Alexander will split time at the SAM linebacker and defensive end. He is
a co-starter at both.
For his career, Alexander has played in 39 straight games and has 82 career tackles and five tackles for loss ,
including two sacks. His brother Bennie was a cornerback at Florida.
The Bamberg Bookends
Clemson is very deep at the defensive end position. Two of the reasons are starters Da'Quan Bowers and
Ricky Sapp. Both are from Bamberg, SC where they played at Bamberg- Ehrhardt High School two years apart
and as a result they are known as the “Bamberg Bookends.” Both did well in the classroom last year as they both
made the academic honor roll in the spring semester.
Bowers is a sophomore and Sapp a senior, who is coming back from a torn ACL suffered at Virginia last year.
Both are looking to have big seasons in terms of pressuring the quarterback in defensive coordinator Kevin
Steele's defense. They combined for seven sacks during the three
preseason scrimmages.
Bowers was Clemson's MVP of the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl against Nebraska when he had three tackles for loss.
He ended the 2008 season with 47 tackles, most among Clemson defensive linemen.
Sapp had just 28 tackles in his injury riddled junior year. Still, he has 26 career tackles for loss and 11
sacks. He is fourth among active ACC players in tackles for loss and sacks.
Five Graduates on Clemson Roster
Clemson has five graduates on the roster for 2009. Those players are Sadat Chambers (saf),
Chris Chancellor (CB), Thomas Austin (OG), Durrell Barry (TE), and Kyle Johnson (WR). Many other seniors on
the roster are slated to graduate in December. The list includes running back C.J. Spiller who needs to pass
four courses to graduate in December. Spiller was first-team Academic All-ACC last year.
Clemson has had a strong academic performance in recent years.
•This past year 27 football players were on the ACC academic honor roll, the most in school history.
•Five Tigers were on the Academic All-ACC team, second best in the conference.
•Forty-four of Clemson's 96 players on the roster in the spring of 2009 made the academic honor roll, an
all-time record for one semester. It was also the most selections among all sports at Clemson.
•The team GPA was 2.61 for that semester, second best on record for a Clemson football team.
•13 players on the roster were on the Dean's List for the second semester.
•All 20 seniors on the 2006 Clemson team have their degrees from Clemson. All but two seniors from the 2007
team have their degrees, and all but two of the seniors from the 2008 team have their degrees.
Eight Original Walk-ons on Roster
Clemson has eight original walk-ons on scholarship for the 2009 season. Three scholarship players came off
the active roster over the course of the summer, leading to the opportunity for three more walk-ons. Jamaal
Medlin and Stanley Hunter became student coaches after they had to give up playing football due to injury
or medical condition, while Barry Humphries transferred to another school.
The list of walk-ons now on scholarship includes Terrance Ashe, who is slated to be a starting wide receiver,
and Phillip Price, a second team offensive tackle. Kantrell Brown is a reserve safety, who lettered on special
teams last year, while Ben Ramsey lettered each of the last two
years as a reserve center.
Clemson has had some walk-ons who have gone on to be very successful as scholarship players. Rob Bodine,
who went on to earn first-team All-America status on Clemson's 1991 ACC Championship team as a defensive
tackle, will be inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame this weekend. He had 27 tackles for loss that year to
lead the nation in 1991.
Clemson Walk-ons Now on Scholarship
Name Pos Hometown
Terrance Ashe WR Cheraw, SC
Kantrell Brown SS St. Matthews, SC
Phillip Price OT Dillon, SC
Ben Ramsey C Greensboro, NC
Chris Richardson DE Litha Springs, GA
Caleb Simmons OL Lake City, SC
Ronald Watson RB Mauldin, SC
John Wright DT Anderson, SC
Clemson has 22 Top 100 Players on Roster
One of the positives of the new West Endzone at Clemson Memorial Stadium has been the positive effect it has
had on recruiting. A look to the Clemson roster shows that 22 players currently on the Clemson roster were
ranked as top 100 players by at least one national recruiting service
coming out of high school.
The list is led by Da'Quan Bowers, who was ranked as the top signee in the country in 2008 by ESPN.com, the
first time Clemson had a number-one ranked signee according to any service. He was also number-two by Rivals
and Scout and 14th by Tom Lemming.
Clemson has recruited especially well at quarterback and defensive end. Three quarterbacks (Willy Korn, Kyle Parker, Tajh Boyd) have
been top 100 players and three defensive ends (Ricky Sapp, Da'Quan Bowers, Mallicah Goodman) on the Clemson
depth chart are top 100 players.
Clemson Top 100 Players
Player ESPN Rivals Scout Lemming
Spencer Adams, S 40 95
Dwayne Allen. TE 83
Da'Quan Bowers. DE 1 2 2 14
Tajh Boyd. QB 58 51 23 38
Xavier Brewer, CB 65
Jamie Cumbie, DT 87 50
Andre Ellington, RB 44
Mallicah Goodman, DE 38 89
Marcus Gilchrist, S 42 91 47
Jamie Harper, RB 12 35
J.K. Jay, OT 86
Willy Korn, QB 98 62 25
Byron Maxwell, CB 40
Antoine McClain, OG 78 60
DeAndre McDaniel, S 90
Bryce McNeal. WR 73 75
Kyle Parker. QB 34
Ricky Sapp, DE 61 21 31 18
C.J. Spiller. RB 47 8 16 12
Rendrick Taylor. TE 92
Brandon Thompson. DT 39 71
Cory Lambert. OT 98
Clemson Staff Has Experience
Clemson has an experienced staff for 2009. The 10 coaches have a combined 150 years of coaching experience at
the Division I level as a full-time assistant coach. Those coaches have been to a combined 114 bowl games and
have won a combined 17 conference championships.
Four of the coaches have been on a staff that won a national championship. Kevin Steele was on a national
championship staff at Nebraska, Dan Brooks at Tennessee, Danny Pearman at Alabama and Brad Scott at Florida State.
That list of national championship coaches does not include Dabo Swinney, who played on a national
championship team at Alabama, and associate AD Woody McCorvey, who was on the national championship
staff at Alabama in 1992.
Clemson Coaching Staff
Coach Responsibility Yrs NC Bowls Conf
Dabo Swinney Head Coach 11 10 1
Charlie Harbison DB 15 12 2
Kevin Steele DC/LB 23 1 16 6
Brad Scott OG/C 26 1 21 2
Jeff Scott WR 1 1 0
Billy Napier OC/QB 6 4 0
Danny Pearman OT/TE 18 1 18 4
Chris Rumph DE 7 6 0
Dan Brooks DT 25 1 17 2
Andre Powell RB 18 9 0
Totals 150 4 114 17
NC—National Championships, Conf—Conference Championships
Eight First-Year Freshmen Saw Action in 2008
Clemson has a small freshman class this year with just 12 signees. Mallicah Goodman and Jonathan Meeks are
on the deep and appear to be slated for playing time his year.
Clemson had eight first year freshmen play last years, including six who appeared in the first game of the
year against Alabama.
In the last 27 years, Clemson has played 159 first-year freshmen, an average of 5.9 per year. Sixty-six of
them have been offensive players, 88 have been defensive players, and five have been kickers.
The record for first-year freshmen played in one season is 11 (1985,07). The most wins for a team that has
played at least eight first-year freshmen is 10, set in 1989, a team that played eight first-year freshmen
during its 10-2 season.
The Tigers have played at least one first-year freshman during all 26 years of the rule. The fewest was the
one used in 2002 (Justin Miller).
First-Year Freshman Participants Since 1999
1999 (5) David Ellis (LB), Rodney Feaster (LB), Brian Mance (CB), Bernard Rambert (TB), Rodney Thomas (LB)
2000 (4) Aaron Hunt (PK), Yusef Kelly (RB), John Leake (LB), Ronnie Thomas (WR)
2001 (9) Eric Coleman (DT), Roscoe Crosby (WR), Airese Currie (WR), Maurice Fountain (DE), Ben Hall (TE),
Leroy Hill (LB), Tavaghn Monts (DB), Travis Pugh (FS), Eric Sampson (LB)
2002 (1) Justin Miller (CB)
2003 (5) Tramaine Billie (LB), Jad Dean (PK), Marion Dukes (OT), Sergio Gilliam (CB), Brandon Pilgrim (OG)
2004 (2) La'Donte Harris (WR), Barry Richardson (OT)
2005 (8) Antonio Clay (LB), James Davis (RB), Tyler Grisham (WR), Haydrian Lewis (CB), Jock McKissic (DT),
Phillip Merling (DE), Josh Miller (LB), Rendrick Taylor (WR)
2006 (8) Kevin Alexander (LB), Crezdon Butler (CB), Jeremy Campbell (LB), Jamie Cumbie (DE), Jacoby Ford (WR),
Michael Palmer (TE), Ricky Sapp (DE), C.J. Spiller (RB)
2007 (11) Kourtnei Brown (DE), Miguel Chavis (DT), Scotty Cooper (LB), Chad Diehl (FB), Xavier Dye (WR),
Marcus Gilchrist (CB), Jarvis Jenkins (DT), Willy Korn (QB), Brian Linthicum (TE), DeAndre McDaniel (S),
Rennie Moore (DE)
2008 (8) Daniel Andrews (LB), Da'Quan Bowers (DE), Jamie Harper (RB), Stanley Hunter (LB), Marquan Jones (WR),
Antoine McClain (OL), Brandon Thompson (DT), Dawson Zimmerman (P)
2009 Clemson Hall of Fame Inductees
Saturday will be Hall of Fame Day at Clemson. Below are some notes on the eight former Tigers who will be
inducted this year.
Chuck Kriese, Men's Tennis Head Coach, 1975-08
•The all-time winningest coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference for total wins (685) and league victories (166).
•Took Clemson to 24 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 12 appearances in Sweet 16, and seven trips to the
Final Eight.
•Clemson had 16 top 25 finishes, including school record seven straight top 10 finishes from 1980-86
•Won 10 ACC Championships
•First Clemson Coach to be named National Coach of the Year in any Sport, he won the honor in 1981 and 1986.
•ACC Coach of the Year six times.
•Fifteen of his former players were named to ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002, more than any other coach
in Clemson history.
Grayson Marshall, Basketball, 1984-88
•Clemson's career assist leader with 857, a total that ranks fourth in ACC history and in top 20 in NCAA history.
•Ranked 20th in nation as a freshman, 13th as a sophomore and 15th as a junior, only player in Clemson history
to rank in top 20 in same NCAA category three times.
•Clemson career leader in assist/turnover ratio with 2.47 figure.
•Established Clemson and ACC record for assists in a game with 20 against Maryland Eastern Shore in November
of 1985.
•First player in Clemson history to lead Tigers in assists four consecutive years.
•Starting point guard on Clemson's first 25-win team in 1986-87.
Rob Bodine, Football, 1989-91
•Named first-team All-American by Football Writers Association in 1991, he was a second-team choice by
Associated Press and The Sporting News.
•Second original walk-on to earn All-America honors in school history.
•First-team All-ACC in 1991.
•Tied a Clemson record with 27 tackles for loss in 1991, he led the nation in that category.
•Started 35 consecutive games between 1989-91, and all three of those teams finished in the top 20.
•Starter on ACC Championship team of 1991 that led the nation in rushing defense.
•Finished his career with 48 tackles for loss, still in top five in Clemson history.
Brian Dawkins, Football, 1992-95
• Second-team All-American by Associated press and The Sporting News in 1995
•First-team All-ACC in 1995, second-team in 1993 and 1994
•Eighth in the nation in interceptions in 1995
•ACC Interception Champion, 1995
•Set Clemson record with three interceptions in one quarter vs. Duke in 1995
•National Defensive Player of the Week by Sports Illustrated vs. Duke, 1995
•Named to Clemson Centennial Football team in 1996
•Second round draft choice of Philadelphia Eagles in 1996 draft
•Selected to Seven NFL Pro Bowls, more than any other former Clemson player
John Engler, Golf, 1997-01
•First-team All-American in 1999 and 2001, and second team selection in 2000.
•First-team All-ACC in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
•Named to United States Palmer Cup team three times in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
•Ranked as nation's fourth best player in 2001.
•The 1999 Puerto Rico Classic champion and 2001 ACC Champion.
•Established Clemson record with 13-under-par 203 score at 2001 ACC tournament.
•First player in Clemson history with two rounds at 64 or better.
•Second player in Clemson history to record a hole-in-one while competing for Clemson.
•Named to ACC's 50-year Anniversary golf team in 2002.
Jean Desdunes, Men's Tennis, 1980-83
•ITA National Senior Player of the Year in 1983
•Named to the ACC 50-year Anniversary team in 2002.
•First-team All-American singles player in 1982 and 1983
•Only player in Clemson history with over 150 doubles wins and 150 singles wins.
•ACC #5 Singles Champion in 1980, #3 Singles Champion in 1981 and 1983
•ACC #3 Doubles Champion in 1980, #1 Doubles Champion in 1982
•Ranked as 18th best player in Nation in 1982
•Had 27-Match Winning Streak in 1980, second longest in Clemson history.
•Starter on four Top 10 teams and three ACC Championship teams.
Jodi Steffes, Volleyball, 1998-2001
•Four-time AVCA All-District Selection (1998-01)
•Three-time All-ACC, (1999-01)
•ACC Rookie of the Year (1999)
•Named to ACC 50-year Anniversary team in 2002
•Ranked in top 10 in Clemson history in career attempts, kills, blocks, aces and digs
•One of just four players in school history with 500 kills, 1,000 digs and 200 blocks.
•Assistant coach on two NCAA Tournament Clemson teams.
Sheri Bueter, Women's Soccer, 1994-98
•First-team All-ACC Tournament, 1996, 1997 and 1998, first Clemson player to be a three-time selection.
•First-team All-ACC in 1998, second-team selection in 1994 and 1997
•Soccer Buzz All-Southeast Region, 1997 and 1998
•Clemson career record holder in assists with 40
•Holds Clemson record for assists in a season with 13 in 1994
•Starter on four NCAA Teams, including Elite Eight team of 1997
•Starter on four Clemson teams that finished in top 13 nationally.
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