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Andy Smith's top Clemson football players of all time. Read his top 10 Clemson football players and power rankings.
Top 10 Greatest Clemson Football Players Of All Time
In this ranking, we will analyze the top 10 greatest players in Clemson football history. We will look at career statistics, legacy, and impact during their time with the Tigers.
No. 10: DeAndre Hopkins, WR
DeAndre Hopkins spent his entire three-year collegiate career at Clemson. Hopkins showed steady improvement each season and enjoyed a fantastic campaign during his final season. After tallying 637 and 978 yards in his first two seasons, Hopkins took a significant step forward in his final campaign, tallying 1,405 yards and 18 scores. Both of these numbers led the ACC that season.
No. 9: Sammy Watkins, WR
Sammy Watkins enjoyed an impressive career at Clemson and is widely considered the best receiver in school history. Watkins was named a two-time first-team All-ACC and was a two-time first-team All-American. During his first season in 2011, Watkins led the ACC in receiving scores and was named ACC Rookie of the Year. He was later drafted fourth overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2014 NFL Draft.
No. 8: Mitch Hyatt, OT
Mitch Hyatt played a critical role in the Clemson offensive line during their several championships in the 2010s. Hyatt captured two National Championships and was named a consensus All-American during the 2018 season. Hyatt holds the school record for the most starts at offensive tackle and total snaps played.
No. 7: Vic Beasley, DE
After appearing in just nine games during his freshman season, Vic Beasley became a critical player on the Clemson defense during his final three seasons. In his last two campaigns (2013, 2014), Beasley led the ACC in total sacks. During this impressive stretch, he was named a consensus All-American twice and tallied 25 combined sacks. His dominant career led to him being drafted eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2015 NFL Draft.
No. 6: Deshaun Watson, QB
Deshaun Watson was one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the nation during the 2010s. Watson only appeared in eight games during his first collegiate season, but flashed upside. He took over the starting duties in 2015 and did not look back. In 2015 and 2016, Watson led the ACC in passing yards and passing scores in both campaigns. He finished third in Heisman voting in 2015 and second in 2016. In addition, he led the Tigers to a National Championship in 2016,
No. 5: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S
Isaiah Simmons was a part of two National Championships during his time at Clemson. However, he only appeared in one game in 2016. In 2017, Simmons became a full-time starter, seeing time at linebacker and safety. Over his final three seasons, he would tally 148 solo tackles and 237 combined tackles. He would be named the 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and capture his second National Championship in 2018.
No. 4: Christian Wilkins, DT
Christian Wilkins played a lead role in the Clemson defensive line during their dominant run in the 2010s. Wilkins was able to win two National Championships with the Tigers (2016 and 2018) while appearing in at least 14 games in each of his four seasons. He finished his career with 191 combined tackles and 16 sacks. He was named a consensus All-American in his senior season (2018) and was later drafted 13th overall by the Miami Dolphins.
No. 3: CJ Spiller, RB
CJ Spiller flashed elite upside during his time at Clemson. In his freshman season, Spiller led the ACC with an impressive 7.3 YPC. He operated as the lead running back throughout his career. In his final season (2009), Spiller ran for 1,212 yards and scored 16 combined touchdowns. He was named a consensus All-American and finished sixth in Heisman voting. He sits at the top of the school record book with 7,588 all-purpose yards.
No. 2: Travis Etienne, RB
Travis Etienne enjoyed an illustrious career with the Clemson Tigers. He posted a stellar career 7.2 YPC, which still stands as a school record. During his four seasons at Clemson, Etienne led the ACC in rushing scores twice and rushing yards once. He won a National Championship in 2018 and was named ACC Player of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. He is also the ACC’s all-time leading rusher with 4,952 yards.
No. 1: Trevor Lawrence, QB
One of the best quarterback prospects of all time holds the top spot on this list. Trevor Lawrence posted an incredible 34-2 record during his career and led them to a National Championship as a freshman. He led the ACC in completion percentage twice and passer rating twice. He threw for a combined 10,098 passing yards with 90 passing scores. He was named the 2020 ACC Player of the Year and finished second in Heisman voting during that season. He was then drafted first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2021 NFL Draft.
