Spiller, Ford Named Freshman All-America |
Clemson running back C.J. Spiller has been named a first-team freshman All-American by The Sporting News. This is the third freshman All-America team for Spiller, who has established seven Clemson freshman records this season. He was earlier named a first-team freshman All-American by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Teammate and classmate Jacoby Ford has been named a second-team freshman All-American as a kick returner by Rivals.com and Scout.com. He was named an honorable mention freshman All-American by The Sporting News. Spiller and Ford are the fourth and fifth Clemson freshman in the last five years to make a freshman All-America team. Justin Miller (2002), Barry Richardson (2004) and James Davis (2005) were honored in recent years. Spiller, who was named second-team All-ACC by the Atlantic Coast Media Association, is fourth in the ACC in rushing with 914 yards in 12 games, an average of 76.2 yards per game. He has an ACC best 7.37 yards per carry (124-914), which is the best by any ACC running back since Warrick Dunn averaged 7.5 yards per rush in 1995. The 7.37 average if fourth best in ACC history. The native of Lake Butler, FL who was a first-team USA Today and Parade All-American out of Union County High School has rushed for at least 150 yards in each of the last two games, including a 155-yard effort in just 10 carries against South Carolina in the regular season finale. He scored two touchdowns in that game, including a 80-yard run that was the longest by a Clemson running back in 13 years. Spiller ranks first in the ACC in yards per rush (7.37), second in all-purpose running (111.9), seventh in scoring (6.0) and third in total touchdowns (12). He is first among all freshmen in rushing and all-purpose running in the ACC. Spiller was also named to the All-ACC freshman team by The Sporting News. He was joined on that first team by defensive back Crezdon Butler. Butler tied for first on the Clemson team in interceptions this year with three. He finished the regular season with 34 tackles and three passes broken up. He did not start a game, but played in ever contest for an average of 10 snaps per game. He had a career high seven tackles in the win over Temple and two interceptions in the win over Louisiana Tech. Ford was the only player in the nation with a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in 2006. He is not listed in the national statistics because he does not have enough attempts in either category to qualify. But, Ford averages 33.1 yards per kickoff return, a figure that would lead the ACC, and his 11.8 average on punt returns would be second best in the ACC. His stats in the bowl game against Kentucky will count towards his qualification. Spiller and Davis have combined for 10 touchdown plays of 50 yards or more this year. Spiller has six, including an 82-yard pass reception at Boston College that is the longest pass reception in Clemson history by a freshman. Ford has four, including a 76-yard touchdown reception against South Carolina.
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