Clemson's Best Offensive Linemen
I started watching Clemson football in 1974 and can remember all of the great players over the last forty years. I am in the process of giving my thoughts on the greatest Tigers at every position over that 40 year span. I think it is only fair for me to comment on the players I actually saw play. So below is my ranking for the best offensive linemen in the last 40 seasons:
I divided the offensive linemen up into the categories below to help differentiate their careers. Since offensive linemen is a hard position to evaluate and stats don't help, I decided to use All-American teams, All-ACC teams and awards as a criteria. The first group is made up of guys that were two-time All-Americans. The next section is of the only three-time All-ACC player and the final segment is made up of the offensive linemen who were an All-American, made the All-ACC team twice or were a finalist for a national award.
The first five players were the only offensive linemen in Clemson history to be named All-American twice:
1. Joe Bostic
Joe Bostic is one of only two, two-time first-team All-Americans on the offensive line and Clemson. He was a first-team All-American in 1977 and 1978. Bostic was All-ACC in 1977 and 1978. He was selected to the ACC's Fifty Year Anniversary team. Bostic played ten years in the NFL.
2. Stacy Long
Stacey Long is the other two-time first team All-American offensive linemen at Clemson. Long was first team All-American in 1989 and 1990. He was an All-ACC choice in 1989 and 1990. Outland Trophy goes to the nation's top offensive lineman and Long was a finalist for the award in 1990.
3. Kyle Young
Kyle Young is one of the most decorated offensive lineman in Clemson history. He was a second-team All-American in 2000 and and a third team All-American in 2001. Young was All-ACC in 2000 and 2001. The Rimington Award goes to the nation's top center and Young was a finalist in 2000 and 2001. He played over 3,000 plays at Clemson, started 40 games and recorded 412 knockdown blocks.
4. John Phillips
John Phillips was a first-team All-American in 1986 and a second-team All-American in 1987. He was an All-ACC choice in 1986 and 1987. In his career, Phillips started 32 games, played 2,330 snaps and had 245 knockdown blocks.
5. Stacey Seegars
Stacey Seegars was a second-team All-American in 1992 and and first-team All-American in 1993. He was an All-ACC selection in 1992 and 1993. He started 35 games, had 2,457 snaps and 213 knockdown blocks.
Clemson's Only Three Time All-ACC
6. Jeb Flesch
Jeb Flesch is Clemson's only three-time All-ACC offensive lineman. He was All-ACC in 1989, 1990 and 1991. He was a consensus first-team All-American in 1991. Flesch started 45 games at Clemson, he played 2,,657 plays and had 267 knockdown blocks.
The Final Group is Made Up of Players who were either Two time All-ACC, Made All-American and All-ACC in their careers or an Award Finalist
7. Steve Reese
Steve Reese was a terrific athlete. He was a second-team All-American in 1985. Reese was All-ACC choice in 1984 and 1985.
8. Lee Nanny
Lee Nanny was the top offensive lineman on Clemson's 1981 National Championship team. He was a second-team All-American in 1981. Nanny was All-ACC in 1980 and 1981. Nanny started 35 games and played 2,101 plays in his career.
9. Jim Bundren
Jim Bundren was a second-team All-American in 1997. He was selected to the All-ACC team in 1996 and 1997. Bundren started all 47 games he played at Clemson. He had 2,,772 snaps and recorded 131 knockdown blocks.
10.
Barry Richardson
Barry Richardson
Offensive Tackle
#79 6-7, 330
Mt. Pleasant, SC
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Big Barry Richardson was a first-team All-American in 2006. He was an All-ACC pick in 2006 and 2007. He started 44 games, played 2,778 snaps and had 206 knockdown blocks at Clemson.
11.
Dalton Freeman
Dalton Freeman
Center
#55 6-5, 265
Pelion, SC
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Dalton Freeman started 49 games in his Clemson career. He was a Rimington Award Finalist in 2011. Freeman is one of just three Clemson offensive linemen to be a finalist for a national award. he is just the second center to be a finalist for the Rimington Award. Freeman All-ACC in 2011
12. James Farr
James Farr was a third-team All-American and first-team All-ACC in 1983. In his career he started 35 games, recorded 1,887 snaps and had 122 knockdown blocks.
13. Jeff Nunnamacher
Jeff Nunnamacher was a terrific offensive tackle that made the All-ACC in 1987 and 1988.
14. Glenn Roundtree
Glenn Roundtree was a four-year starter at guard at Clemson. Like his teammate Jim Bundren, Roundtree started all 47 games in his career at Clemson. He was chosen to the All-ACC team in 1996 and 1997.
15.
Thomas AustinThomas Austin
Offensive Line
# 6-4, 285
Camden, SC
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Thomas Austin was a third-team All-American in 2009. He was named All-ACC in 2008 and 2009. Austin started 39 games, played 2,501 plays and had 316 knockdown blocks.
16.
Chris Hairston
Chris Hairston
Offensive Line
#61 6-7, 325
Winston-Salem, NC
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Chris Hairston was an excellent offensive tackle. He was named All-ACC in 2009 and 2010. He is one of just 18 Clemson offensive linemen to make the All-ACC team twice.
17. Chris McDuffie
Chris McDuffie was a late bloomer at Clemson but he had a great senior season in 2007. For his efforts, McDuffie was a second-team All-American that season. McDuffie was also All-ACC in 2007.
18. Nathan Bennett
Nathan Bennett was a hard-nosed offensive guard that excelled in run blocking. He was a third-team All-American in 2006. He was also All-ACC that same season.
19. Will Merritt
Will Merritt was a smart player and a three-year starter at offensive guard. Merritt was an All-ACC selection in 2000 and 2001.
I also considered guys that made the All-ACC team once. This list included players like Steve Kenney, Jeff Bostic, Tony Berryhill, Hank Phillips, Eric Harmon, Mike Brown, Bruce Bratton, Dwayne Morgan, Jamie Trimble, Holland Postell, Corey Hulsey, Akil Smith, Greg Walker, Roman Fry and Dustin Fry.
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Brandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
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