8 Best Clemson Tigers Football Players of All Time

The Clemson Tigers were a force to be dealt with, winning two national championships over three years in 2016 and 2018. 

When online sports betting became legal shortly after their 2018 national title, and during the first years of its legalization, the team had Trevor Lawrence under center, which made for exciting college football live betting. 

Those two national championships are two of the three the program has ever won, but there are still many fantastic players that have been a part of the the program over the years. 

With that, I’ve compiled a list of the best eight players to ever come through Death Valley. 

8 Best Clemson Tigers Football Players Ever

1. Deshaun Watson

The Tigers hadn’t won a national championship since 1981 until Watson came along, leading the team to the title in 2016. That year, he was also the CFP National Championship Offensive MVP and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award among several other accolades.He also was a Consensus All-American in 2015. 

At Clemson, Watson ranks second in school history in passing yards (10,163), passing touchdowns (90), total offence (12,097), and touchdowns responsible for (116). He also holds the top two marks for most passing yards in a single season with 4,593 in 2016 and 4,104 in 2015. No other quarterback at Clemson has surpassed 4,000 passing yards in a single season. 

2. Trevor Lawrence

Shortly after Watson departed, Lawrence came to town, and as a freshman, he led the Tigers to their second national championship in three seasons. 

He started out behind Kelly Bryant but was named the starter after four games. That year, Lawrence went 11-0 while throwing for 3,280 yards, 30 touchdowns, and four interceptions. In the national championship game, Lawrence led Clemson to a 44-16 rout over Alabama. 

After that, he spent two more seasons with the team, including 2019 when he had 3,665 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. 

During his time at Clemson, he started 36 games and only lost two of them. 

Lawrence ranks third in Clemson history in passing yards (10,098) and is tied with Watson for second in passing touchdowns (90). 

3. Travis Etienne

Etienne was a massive part of the Tigers’ 2018 championship run and he comes in at third on my list. 

During that season, Etienne ran 204 times for 1,658 yards and 24 touchdowns. Over four seasons and 686 carries, he had 70 rushing touchdowns for the program. He also was a three-time All-American and was named ACC Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019. 

He ranks first in Clemson history in rushing yards (4,952) and rushing touchdowns (70), and it’s not even close. The next closest in rushing yards is Raymond Priester with 3,966. 

4. Banks McFadden

I’m spinning the clock way back here to give some credit to arguably the most important player on this list. 

As running back, McFadden was Clemson’s first-ever All-American and led the program to its first bowl game during the 1939 season. 

He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1940 NFL Draft, but after one season, he returned to Clemson to coach.

He’s in the College Football Hall of Fame, and his No. 66 is retired by the school. 

5. C.J. Spiller

Spiller is among the top 10 in many records at Clemson, and while he’s not No.1, this guy carried the team during this time as a rusher, receiver, and in the return game.

By the time it was all said and done, Spiller played four years at Clemson and posted these stats: 

• 591 carries, 3,547 rushing yards, 32 touchdowns
• 120 receptions, 1,362 yards, 11 touchdowns
• 53 punt returns for 569 yards
• 72 kick returns for 2,005 yards
• Eight total return touchdowns

He ranks fourth in program history in rushing yards, sixth in rushing touchdowns, sixth in points (308), and second in total touchdowns (51). 

6. Sammy Watkins

Watkins was a key piece to that 2013 national championship run, but in the years leading up to that, he and DeAndre Hopkins formed a formidable duo for opposing college football secondaries. 

In three years at Clemson, Watkins finished with 240 catches for 3,391 yards and 27 touchdowns. 

These numbers place him second in catches, first in receiving yards, and tied for first in receiving touchdowns in the Clemson record books 

Watkins also was also a two-time first-team All-American. 

7. William Perry

Known mostly by his nickname “Refrigerator,” Perry was a member of the first-ever Clemson national championship team in 1981. He was named the ACC Player of the Year in 1984 and was a Consensus All-American in 1983.

Perry is tied for the third-most sacks in Clemson history with 27. When he left, he was the program’s all-time leader in that category and tackles for loss (60). 

8. DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins rounds out my list. I mentioned him briefly above with Watkins, but Hopkins was sensational from 2010 to 2012. 

In college, he played 39 games and caught 206 passes for 3,020 yards and 27 touchdowns. It was his 2012 season where he showed out most, catching 82 passes for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns. 

He ranks fourth in program history in receptions, second in receiving yards, and is tied with Watkins for first in receiving touchdowns.