Best Clemson Football Players: Last 20 Years

With news today that CJ Spiller has been named to yet another All-America team as an all-purpose player he now becomes one of the most decorated Tigers in school history. This season he was named a first-team All-American by the AP, Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News, CBSSportsline.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com as an all-purpose back and/or return specialist. He amassed an incredible 2,508 (192.92 yards per game) all-purpose yards, which was 4th in the country, including 1,145 yards rushing, 445 receiving and 21 total touchdowns including a touchdown pass. Spiller, who was the ACC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, will certainly go into the books as one of the greatest Tigers of all-time. The Doak Walker Award finalist is also one of only 18 consensus All-Americans in Clemson history and only one of three unanimous All-Americans.



This leads me to ask; who are the greatest Clemson Tiger football players of all-time? To be hoenst, I would love to include guys like Fred Cone, Banks McFadden, Steve Fuller, etc. but since I was not yet born while they were wearing orange, I cannot attest to their greatness. Therefore this list is not comprehensive, but will include players from the 90s until today.

Here are the starters for the fictional all-time team from the past two decades:



Offense:



QB - Woody Dantzler (1998-2001)

Dantzler was the true definition of a dual threat quarterback during his career at Clemson. He became the first player in NCAA history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season in 2001. He had back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons his junior and senior years.



RB - CJ Spiller (2006-2009)

See above. Most electrifying and explosive player in college football player in 2009. Clemson career leader in all-purpose yards; almost doubles the yardage total of the next closest Tiger in the record books.



RB - Raymond Priester (1994-1997)

Clemson's all-time leading rusher was a 6'1" 235 lbs. bruiser who had back-to-back 1300+ yards rushing in his career, including the single season rushing record of 1,345 as a junior. Despite being such a straight ahead rusher, Priester managed to have an impressive career average of 4.9 ypc.



WR - Rod Gardner (1997-2000)

Gardner, who was a second-team All-ACC as a junior and first-team All-America and All-ACC as a senior, teamed with Dantzler to create an electrifying combo while in Tigertown. Gardner hauled in 80 receptions for 1,084 yards as a junior and another 58 receptions for 1,050 yards and 7 touchdowns as a senior.



WR - Aaron Kelly (2005-2008)

First team All-ACC performer in 2007 and honorable mention All-American after hauling in 88 receptions for 1,081 yards and 11 touchdowns. Became the ACC and Clemson all-time leader in career receptions in 2008 when he had 67 receptions for 722 yards and 4 scores. Was productive every year he was a Tiger, collecting 47 receptions as a freshman and 30 as a sophomore.



WR - Derrick Hamilton (2001-2003)

Hamilton left after his junior season to pursue a career in the NFL but was one of the most gamebreaking players in Clemson football history. His best season came in 2003 when he reeled in 63 receptions 1,026 yards and 10 scores. Much like Spiller and Horne, Hamilton was another all-purpose performer. He was both second-team All-ACC as a receiver and return specialist as a junior.



TE - Michael Palmer (2006-2009)

Palmer had a breakout season this past year in which he caught 41 passes for 468 yards and 4 TDs. He was also first-team All-ACC in 2009. His 41 receptions were far and away the most catches by a Clemson tight end in 25 years.



OT - Stacy Long (1986-1990)

Long barely makes his way into the last 20 years but was a two-time All-American in 1989 and 1990, including being named a consensus All-American in 1990 when he had 52 knockdown blocks in 601 plays.



OT - Jim Bundren (1994-1997)

Bundren was named Second-team All-America in 1997. One of only two Clemson players to have been named first-team All-ACC and Academic All-ACC in two consecutive seasons.



OG - Stacy Seegars (1990-1993)

Named second-team All-America in 1992 and first-team in 1993. Had 103 knockdown blocks as a junior and another 58 as a senior.



OG - Jeb Flesch (1988-1991)

Consensus first-team All-American in 1991. Recorded 77 pancake blocks in 1991.



C - Kyle Young (1998-2001)

He was named a second-team All-America in 2000 and third-team in 2001. He had 120 knockdown blocks and 168 knockdown blocks in his junior and senior years.



Defense:



DE - Gaines Adams (2003-2006)

Adams was one of the most decorated defensive players to ever play for the Tigers. He was named a unanimous first team All-America in 2006 when he recorded 12.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles-for-loss. He became the 4th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tied with Michael Dean Perry for most career sacks in Clemson history with 28.



DE - Adrian Dingle (1996-1999)

Set the then-Clemson record for sacks in a season with 10.5 in 1999 (which was broken the next season). He also had 15 tackles for loss in 1999.



DT - Rob Bodine (1989-1991)

Bodine was named a first-team All-American in 1991 when he had 108 tackles (27 for loss) and 7.5 sacks. He finished his career with 15 sacks and 48 tackles for loss.



DT - Trevor Pryce (1996)

Only played one season for the Tigers before jumping to the NFL after transferring from Michigan. Had a team-best 20 tackles for loss to go along with 7.5 sacks, which are very impressive numbers for an interior lineman. Pryce has gone on to a stellar NFL career as a defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens.

LB - Keith Adams (1998-2000)

Two-time , first team All-American (1999, 2000) who posted a single season record for sacks with 16 in '99. He also had an astonishing 35 tackles for loss that season to go along with 186 total tackles. He followed that up with 148 tackles (19 TFL) and 9 sacks the following season.

LB - Anthony Simmons (1995-1997)

One of the most decorated players to ever strap on a helmet for Clemson, Simmons was an All-American all three seasons he was a Tiger. He was a two-time, first team All-American as well. The Spartanburg, SC product had 150+ tackles all three seasons, highlighted by 25 tackles for loss and 8 sacks his junior year.

LB - Levon Kirkland (1988-1991)

Manned the outside linebacker position for the Tigers and was a two-time All-American (1990, 1991). He was a first team All-America in 1991 when he had 67 tackles, 12 for loss and 5.5 sacks. He went on to a stellar, All-Pro career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

CB - Antwan Edwards (1995-1998)

He was a third team All-American in 1998 and a first-team All-ACC selection as well. He was a second team All-ACC pick in 1997. He recorded 43 tackles with 2 interceptions in 1998, which followed a 52 tackle, 4 interception season the year prior.

CB - Tye Hill (2003-2005)

First team All-American in 2005 who had 54 tackles and 3 interceptions. The converted tailback had 21 passes broken up in 2004 and became a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams.

SS - Brian Dawkins (1992-1995)

This is an absolute no-brainer. Dawkins, who was a three-time All-ACC performer and second team All-American in 1995, will someday be in the NFL Hall of Fame. In 1995 Dawkins had 89 tackles to go along with 6 interceptions.

FS - Robert Carswell (1997-2000)

This was a tough pick but Carswell was a third-team All-American in 2000. He was a two-time First Team All-ACC pick as a free safety in 1999 and 2000. He had 129 tackles in 1999 and 6 interceptions, followed up by a 92 tackle, 2 interception performance the following year.

P - Chris Gardocki (1988-1990)

Two-time All-American in 1989 and 1990. Had 24 touchbacks on kickoffs in 1990 while also going 22-28 on field goals. He was a perfect 72-72 on extra points throughout his career. First team All-ACC in 1990 and 1989, 2nd team in 1988. He is also Clemson's career leader in punting average at 43. 48.

PK - Nelson Welch (1991-1994)

Third team All-American in 1992; First team All-ACC in 1991, second team All-ACC '92-'94. Hit on 72-101 field goal attempts and 301 points in his career.

Second team:

QB - Charlie Whitehurst
RB - James Davis, Travis Zachery
WR - Chansi Stuckey, Jacoby Ford, Tony Horne, Terry Smith
TE - Lamont Hall
OL - Dustin Fry, Glenn Roundtree, Will Young, Barry Richardson, Jim Bundren
K - Jad Dean
P - Kevin Laird

DE - Phillip Merling, Bryant McNeal
DT - Brentson Buckner, Donnell Washington
LB - Ed McDaniel, Leroy Hill, Chad Carson, Rahim Abdullah
DB - Justin Miller, DeAndre McDaniel, Dexter McCleon, Michael Hamlin

Best Christmas Movies

'Tis the season where all of our holiday classics come back to life either on DVD, television or for the really cherished relics - the VCR. It's personally not truly Christmas for me unless I see certain films this time of year. Like looking at lights or decorating the tree, viewing(s) of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and "A Christmas Story" are a tradition I have to take part in. Without further ado, here is a list of my personal Top 5 Christmas movies:

1.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

No matter how many times I see Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) rant about his "brainless ,dickless, hopeless" boss I can't help but crack up. This John Hughes' classic really illustrates that no matter how much we try to make every Christmas the idealized, Norman Rockwell-inspired holiday, we often fall short. This film also shows that that's ok, and you can still have a great time being less than perfect. From crazy cousin Eddie to the snoddy neighbors (one of which played by pre-Seinfeld Julia Louis-Dreyfus), this movie piles on the holiday disasters with hilarious consequences.

2.) A Christmas Story (1983)

Never have the words "you'll shoot you're eye out" ever caused such a frenzy. The prophecy of doom that accompanied the inclusion of a Red Rider B-B gun on little Ralphie Parker's (Peter Billingsley) Christmas list fueled one of the funniest Christmas films ever made. What makes this film such a holiday staple is it's midwestern-based values and familiarity. It has a uniquely American feel to it that transcends generations and takes all of us back to the time when we too wrote letters to Santa Claus and could barely sleep a wink on December 24th. Based on the material from short stories by Jean Shepherd, TBS now airs 24 hours straight of "A Christmas Story" on December 24-25th.

3.) Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

Mickey Mouse plays Bob Cratchit in Disney's animated version of the Charles Dickens' classic. Ebenezer Scrooge is portrayed by the aptly named Scrooge McDuck, and the usual cast of characters fill in the other roles admirably. One reason I rank this film so highly is that it actually does a good job of depicting real emotion. At the end of Scrooge's visit from the Ghost of Christmas Future, he falls into his own crypt. The flames emanating from his coffin, coupled with his own struggle to maintain grasp of the root that prevents him from tumbling into it, create a very powerful scene for an animated film. Also, for some reason, I find the way Tiny Tim is depicted in this film more sympathy-inducing than in other adaptations. Disney presents Tiny Tim as a child who has a fighting chance but will not survive in his current economic situation, which is very difficult to evoke in an animated feature.

4.) White Christmas (1954)

This oldie is a classic simply because of Bing Crosby's timeless song of the same name. It is campy at times, as are most movies in the musical genre. Crosby and Danny Kaye's performance however is very good and something about this film just reeks of winter days, Christmas trees, stockings and goodwill towards man. I find that it serves as a Christmas pep rally of sorts.

5.) Bad Santa (2003)

Ok....so it's not really a "Christmas" movie. It is actually a very vulgar movie that earns every bit of it's R-rating. I can say as well that if I do not see this movie around Christmastime that's ok; it's just as enjoyable in June. However, it is hilarious and Billy Bob Thornton is the ultimate curmudgeon as Willie, the drunken, horny mall santa on a crime binge. Beyond all of the swearing and poor morals exhibited by almost all of the characters in the film, it is actually a movie with a good heart behind the crusty exterior. Willie befriends a young boy named Thurman Murman (portrayed by Brett Kelly and credited only as "The Kid") who is bullied and hardly has any guidance from home. Seeing an opportunity to take advantage Thurman, Willie moves in with him as a hideout of sorts until he and his compandre Marcus can rob the mall where they work behind the guise of Santa and his elf. Through it all Willie becomes attached and protective of Thurman and grows to be a sort of father-figure for the boy. This movie really morphs into a real-life story of the Grinch in that Willie came into town to live a lie, steal and get out but winds up staying and finding a home.

Honorable mentions for me include your typical holiday classics such as "It's A Wonderful Life" and "Home Alone" but those listed above really put me in the holiday spirit (except for "Bad Santa", which just makes me laugh).