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