Top 10 Best Clemson College Football Players of All Time

Clemson University has fielded a football team since 1896. In that time, they have won three national championships (1981, 2016, 2018). Throughout all of those seasons, they have had some incredibly talented players. Keep reading to learn about the ten greatest players in Clemson football history.

Who Are the Best Clemson University Football Players of All Time?

1. Deshaun Watson
2. William Perry
3. Travis Etienne
4. Trevor Lawrence
5. Sammy Watkins
6. Brian Dawkins
7. Vic Beasley
8. C.J. Spiller
9. Christian Wilkins
10. DeAndre Hopkins

1. Deshaun Watson

• Two All-ACC Team selections (2015, 2016)
• 2015 ACC Player of the Year
• 2015 All-American selection

A player who was both great for Clemson on the field and played a major role in the process of turning the Tigers into a national powerhouse, Deshaun Watson deserves the title of greatest Clemson player of all time. Watson played three years with the Tigers from 2014-2016 before forgoing his senior season to head to the NFL. In his three seasons, he made two All-ACC teams (2015, 2016), was the 2015 ACC Player of the Year, a 2015 All-American, won two Davey O’Brien Awards (2015, 2016), and was a two-time ACC Athlete of the Year (2015, 2016). 

As for his career passing numbers with Clemson, Watson ranks second in passing yards (10,168) and is tied for second in passing touchdowns (90). From 2014-2016, Clemson went 38-5, including back-to-back appearances in the National Championship game in 2015 and 2016, finally breaking through with the title in the latter year. After winning that title, Watson went on to be the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft by the Houston Texans. After a few years with them, Watson moved on to the Cleveland Browns.

2. William Perry

• 1981 National Champion
• 1984 ACC Player of the Year
• 1983 All-American selection

Known as “The Refrigerator” for his massive size, William Perry was an early 1980s star for Clemson. Perry was a four-year player for the Tigers from 1981-1984. Along with helping the team win a National Championship as a freshman in 1981, Perry went on to be a 1983 All-American and win the 1984 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. 

A sack master, Perry racked up 27 of them during his four-year career, good enough for fourth on the Tigers’ all-time list. He also ranks second in tackles for loss (60), second in fumble recoveries (seven), and third in forced fumbles (eight). During his four-year run with Clemson, along with the 1981 championship, the team went a combined 37-6-2 from 1981-1984. In the 1985 NFL draft, the Chicago Bears took Perry with the 22nd overall pick. He went on to have an outstanding career with the Bears, helping them win a Super Bowl.

3. Travis Etienne

• Two-time ACC Player of the Year (2018, 2019)
• Three All-American selections (2018-2020)
• Four All-ACC Team selections (2017-2020)

The greatest running back in Clemson team history is certainly Travis Etienne. Etienne played four years in Death Valley from 2017-2020. He won two ACC Player of the Year Awards (2018, 2019), made four straight All-ACC teams (2017-2020), three All-American teams (2018-2020), and won two ACC Offensive Player of the Year awards (2018, 2019). 

When looking at the Clemson all-time rushing leaders, Etienne is at the top by a wide margin in both rushing yards (4,952) and rushing touchdowns (70). Throughout his Clemson career, the Tigers went 51-5, making the College Football Playoff all four years and winning the title in 2018. After his four years were up, the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Etienne with the 25th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He has had a great first couple of years in the pros, and he seems to have a nice career in front of him.

4. Trevor Lawrence

• 2020 ACC Player of the Year
• Three All-ACC Team selections (2018-2020)
• 2020 All-American selection

The second quarterback to make this list is another recent star, Trevor Lawrence. Like Watson, Lawrence played three years with the Tigers (2018-2020) before heading off to the NFL. He was the 2018 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, named to an All-ACC team all three years (2018-2020), won the 2020 ACC Player of the Year award, and was a 2020 All-American.

On Clemson’s all-time passing leaderboards, Lawrence is in third place in passing yards (10,098) and is tied for second in passing touchdowns (90). While he was leading the way, Clemson went an incredible 39-3 from 2018-2020, winning the 2018 National Championship and making the College Football Playoff the following two years. Unsurprisingly, Lawrence went on to be the number one overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has already led them to a playoff victory and looks poised for a great career.   

5. Sammy Watkins

• 2011 ACC Rookie of the Year
• Two All-American selections (2011, 2013)
• Two All-ACC First Team selections (2011, 2013)

The first wide receiver to make the cut is Sammy Watkins. Watkins played the required three years in college (2011-2013) before being eligible to head to the NFL. In those three years, he was the 2011 ACC Rookie of the Year and 2011 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year. Watkins made two All-American teams (2011, 2013) and two All-ACC First Teams (2011, 2013). 

Watkins’ notable career numbers in Death Valley are his 3,391 receiving yards, the most in school history, and his 27 receiving touchdowns, tied for the most in school history. While Clemson was not quite the top-five national powerhouse they are today, they still went 32-8 from 2011-2013 and won the 2012 Chick-Fil-A Bowl and the 2013 Orange Bowl. The Buffalo Bills recognized his great talent and drafted him with the number four overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Watkins has bounced around a little in his NFL career, but he still is a part of the league all these years later.   

6. Brian Dawkins

• 1995 First Team All-ACC member
• 1995 All-American selection
• Has Lifetime Achievement Award named after him at Clemson

A great defensive back for the Tigers in the mid-1990s, Brian Dawkins kicks off the second half of this list. Dawkins was a part of the Tigers’ secondary for four years from 1992-1995. In 1995, he was selected to the All-ACC First team and was an All-American. He also has a lifetime achievement award named after him at Clemson in his honor.

While he was at Clemson, Dawkins recorded 11 career interceptions and over 240 tackles. His six interceptions in 1995 are the fifth most in a single season in Clemson history. The team had some ups and downs while Dawkins was there, but overall they were 27-19 and won the 1993 Peach Bowl to cap off a 9-3 year. In 1996, the Philadelphia Eagles took Dawkins with a second-round pick in the NFL draft. He went on to have a great career in the NFL and is a member of the Eagles Hall of Fame. 

7. Vic Beasley

• 2014 ACC Defensive Player of the Year
• Two All-ACC First Team selections (2013, 2014)
• Two All-American selections (2013, 2014)

Yet another great defender in Clemson history is linebacker Vic Beasley. Beasley was a four-year player in the early 2010s for the Tigers from 2011-2014. His awards include the 2014 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, two All-ACC First Team selections (2013, 2014), and two All-American selections (2013, 2014). 

Throughout his career, Beasley racked up 33 sacks, the most ever by a Clemson player (five more than the next closest player). He also has the fourth most tackles for loss in program history with 52.5 and forced seven fumbles. Beasley helped the Tigers win three Bowl games (2012 Chick-Fil-A Bowl, 2013 Orange Bowl, 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl) and led them to a 42-11 overall record. In the 2015 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons drafted him with the eighth overall pick. After playing for a few different NFL teams, Beasley recently signed with the Vegas Vipers of the XFL.

8. C.J. Spiller

• 2009 ACC Player of the Year
• Two All-ACC First Team selections (2008, 2009)
• 2009 All-American selection

The second running back to crack this list is C.J. Spiller, a late 2000s star for the Tigers. From 2006-2009, Spiller led the Tiger backfield. The 2009 ACC Player of the Year, Spiller also was a 2009 All-American and made two All-ACC First teams (2008, 2009). He has his number 28 jersey retired by the Tigers, the only player on this list who has that honor.

Spiller’s career at Clemson currently has him with the fourth most rushing yards (3,547) and the sixth most rushing touchdowns (32) in program history. In his four years from 2006-2009, the team went 33-20, and he capped off his career with a victory in the 2009 Music City Bowl. Afterwards, in the 2010 NFL draft, the Buffalo Bills drafted Spiller with the ninth overall pick. He went on to have a productive NFL career with five different teams before playing his final season in 2017.

9. Christian Wilkins

• Three All-American selections (2016-2018)
• Three All-ACC Team selections (2016-2018)
• 2017 Bill Willis Trophy Award winner

The only two-time national champion on this list, Christian Wilkins is the penultimate player here. Wilkins played out his four-year career with the Tigers from 2015-2018. He made three All-American teams (2016-2018) and three All-ACC teams (2016-2018), winning the 2017 Bill Willis Trophy and the 2017 William Campbell Trophy.

Over the course of his four years, Wilkins compiled 15.5 sacks, 40.5 tackles for loss, and 15 deflected passes, amongst other numbers. As was mentioned above, Wilkins won two National Championships with the Tigers in 2016 and 2018, and he helped the team win an astounding 55 games against just four losses. They also made the College Football Playoff in 2015 and 2017, even though they did not win. After the second national title, Wilkins was drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Wilkins is still going strong with Miami four years later. 

10. DeAndre Hopkins

• 2012 First-Team All-ACC member
• Clemson all-time leader in receiving touchdowns (27)
• Helped team win 2012 ACC Championship

The final player to make this list is the second wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins. Like many of the greats, Hopkins was a three-year contributor to the Tigers (2010-2012) before heading off to the NFL. His junior season in 2012 was his best, when he made the All-ACC First Team.

Out of all Clemson wide receivers, Hopkins is tied for the school’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns with 27, and his 3,020 receiving yards are second behind Sammy Watkins. When it comes to the team’s record during his time there, the Tigers were 27-13 overall, and they won the 2012 ACC Championship and Chick-Fil-A Bowl to finish off his career. In the 2013 NFL draft, the Houston Texans selected Hopkins with the 13th overall pick. He has become one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in recent years, spending the last few seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

Honorable Mentions

While the ten players listed below did not quite make the top ten, they still deserve some recognition as honorable mentions. They are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

• Jerry Butler
• Bennie Cunningham
• Jeff Davis
• Steve Fuller
• Terry Kinard
• Banks McFadden
• Michael Dean Perry
• Raymond Priester
• Anthony Simmons
• Donnell Woolford

FAQ