Top Ten Greatest Clemson Tigers

Dawkins didn’t fully blossom until his professional career, which ended in his retirement after the 2011 season. Before his potential Pro Football Hall of Fame career for 16 years in the NFL, Dawkins was productive safety for two coaches (Ken Hatfield and Tommy West) at Clemson. A three-year starter, Dawkins was a second-team All-ACC selection as a sophomore and junior before emerging as a second-team AP All-America selection as a senior in 1995. He finished his career with 11 career interceptions and 251 tackles. Dawkins showed a glimpse of what was to come in his pro career when he intercepted three passes against Duke in his final home game with the Tigers.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

Compared to some others on this list, Simmons did not play during the best years of Clemson football. The Tigers went 22-14 during his three seasons with the Tigers, but Simmons was a dominant force anyway. He started all but one game in his three seasons at Clemson, racking up 486 career tackles. In 1996, Simmons set a school record with 178 stops, topped only by Keith Adams’ 186 three years later. Simmons earned consensus All-America honors the following seasons.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

There is little left for Tajh Boyd to accomplish in his college career. He returned the Tigers to ACC supremacy with its first league championship in two decades as just a sophomore. He then shattered most Clemson and some ACC passing records as a junior in 2012. He owns the single-season school record for passing yards (3,896) and the ACC single-season touchdown record with 36 scoring strikes. He has posted back-to-back seasons of at least 4,000 total yards of offense and has a chance to finish as the ACC's most productive player in history (passing yards and total offense). Against NC State, Boyd set an ACC record by accounting for eight total touchdowns (5 pass, 3 rush) and the third best total offense game in ACC history (529). The reigning ACC Player of the Year wants more than just a conference championship in 2013.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

Like his quarterback Steve Fuller, Bostic helped return Clemson to national prominence in the late 1970s. Behind Bostic, Fuller and running back Lester Brown, Clemson had a dominant run game during the 11-1 season of 1978. The ACC and Gator Bowl champions, Clemson set school records that for total rushing yards (3,469), rushing yards per game (289.1), total carries (741) and carries per game (61.8). Not even Chad Morris’ up-tempo offense topped Clemson’s 78.8 plays per game in 1978. Bostic was an All-America selection in 1977 and ’78.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

The Refrigerator’s brother was more than just a familiar name along the Clemson defensive line. Michael Dean Perry picked up where his brother left off and exceeded him in some areas. Like his brother, he was one of a handful of defensive players to win ACC Defensive Player of the Year (1987). Michael also broke William’s ACC records for career tackles for a loss (61) and career sacks (28). He remains Clemson’s sole record holder for career tackles for a loss and was tied for career sacks by Gaines Adams in 2006. Perry’s best season came in 1987 when he recorded 24 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks as Clemson went 10-2 with an ACC title.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

Arguably Clemson’s most dynamic offensive playmaker of the Athlon era (since 1967), C.J. Spiller arrived to Clemson from Lake Butler, Fla., as an elite all-purpose recruit. He delivered in all areas, earning ACC Player of the Year honors in 2009. He was the first Clemson player to receive the award since Michael Dean Perry in 1987 and the first offensive player from Clemson to earn the award since quarterback Steve Fuller in 1978. Spiller had only one 1,000-yard season in his career (with 1,212 yards as a senior), but his 7.27 career yards per carry was the second-best average in Clemson history and the best since 1950. A threat as a runner, receiver and return man, Spiller shattered the Clemson record for all-purpose yards with 7,588 in his career, an ACC record and the third-most in NCAA history. His 51 total touchdowns (31 rushing, 12 receiving, seven on kickoff returns, one on a punt return) is a school record.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

Clemson re-emerged from NCAA sanctions and a recruiting scandal in the late 1980s with defense once again at the forefront. After recording 71 tackles as a freshman, Kirkland enjoyed a breakout game at the end of his sophomore season in the Gator Bowl. With nine tackles and a sack, Kirkland was the Gator Bowl MVP as the Tigers’ defense held Heisman finalist Major Harris to 119 passing yards in a 27-7 win over West Virginia. Kirkland was a second-team All-American as a junior and a consensus first-team All-American as a senior, leaving school with 273 career tackles and 19 career sacks.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

One of three defensive players from the title-winning 1981 team to make our list, the team captain Davis played a major role in clinching Clemson’s only national title by earning Orange Bowl Defensive MVP honors in the 22-15 win over No. 4 Nebraska to clinch the championship. Davis led Clemson in tackles that season with a then-school record 175, earning ACC Player of the Year honors and consensus All-America honors. More than a sure tackler, Davis had a penchant for forcing opponents to cough up the ball with 10 forced fumbles and eight recovered fumbles in his career. Both are school records.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

“The Refrigerator” had a knack for the big debut, even before helping the Chicago Bears’ dominant defense to the Super Bowl as a rookie in 1985. As a freshman at Clemson, Perry helped the Tigers to the 1981 national title. That season, Perry came off the bench to 48 tackles and four sacks, including two in a key win over North Carolina. That was only the start for the 300-pound lineman, who earned his nickname as a senior at Clemson after earning consensus All-America honors as a junior. In his final season in 1984, Perry led the nation with 27 tackles for a loss and had 100 tackles – as a nose guard – to earn ACC Player of the Year honors. Only three ACC defensive players and two players from Clemson since then have earned such honors.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

A dominant defensive back, Kinard was Clemson’s first of four unanimous All-America selections and the only one until 2006. The safety from Sumter, S.C., remains the Tigers’ only two-time consensus All-American. As Clemson went 12-0 and won the national title in 1981, Kinard led the Tigers with six interceptions and added 95 tackles. He returned for his senior season in 1982 to record 89 tackles and another six picks. He is Clemson’s career leader in interceptions with 17 and leads all Clemson defensive backs with 294 career stops.

Related Content

• Clemson Tigers 2013 Team Preview
• Clemson Tigers Cheerleader Gallery
• Top 5 Greatest Moments in Clemson Football History
• What Will Clemson's Record Against the SEC be in 2013?
• Ranking the ACC Quarterbacks for 2013
• Ranking the ACC Running Backs for 2013
• College Football's Top 50 Quarterbacks of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era
• College Football's Top 50 Wide Receivers of the BCS Era