Clemson football all-time roster: Defensive starters and backups

A program with a long, rich history, Clemson has seen a lot of great teams with a lot of incredible talent over the years as the program has developed into a marquee name in college football.

Clemson has developed some incredible talent on the defensive side of the ball that has made the Tigers known consistently as one of the most dangerous defensive teams in the country year after year. From Christian Wilkins and the Power Rangers to Jeff  “the Judge” Davis, Clemson has produced some serious defensive talent.

Becoming a premier program more recently under current head coach Dabo Swinney, some of the defenses we’ve seen from the team in recent years are some of the best in college football history.

Wondering what an all-time Clemson roster would look like? We’ve got you covered! Clemson Wire and the rest of our College Wire sites recently put together our all-time program rosters.

Here’s a look at our choices for the Defensive starters and backups on Clemson football’s all-time roster.

See the all-time Clemson offense here.

Check out our other College Wire all-time defenses: Alabama / Auburn / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC

Starting DE: Vic Beasley

Syndication: Greenville

Beasley was a force playing for Clemson becoming a two-time consensus All-American. He finished his collegiate career with 101 tackles, 52.5 tackles for loss, and a Clemson record 33 sacks. His play led to him being selected eighth overall in the 2015 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Starting DE: Clelin Ferrell

Syndication: USA TODAY

Ferrell is likely one of the most underrated Clemson players ever. He was a two-time AP first-team All-American finishing his collegiate career with 66 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 27.0 sacks, 51 quarterback pressures, seven pass breakups, and five caused fumbles in 2,167 snaps over 44 career starts. He was drafted fourth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2019 NFL draft.

Backup DE: Gaines Adams

Syndication: Greenville

A unanimous first-team All-American in 2006, Adams won ACC Defensive Player of the year as a standout for the Tigers. He finished his Clemson career recording 68 tackles, 44.5 tackles for loss, and 28 sacks (tied for second all-time in Clemson). He was selected fourth overall in the 2007 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Backup DE: DaQuan Bowers

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The only Clemson player to win both the Ted Hendricks Award (college football’s top defensive end) and the Bronco Nagurski Award (awarded annually to the Defensive Player of the Year), Bowers was fantastic for the Tigers. Bowers was a unanimous All-American selection in 2010. He finished his Clemson career with 150 tackles, 44.5 tackles for loss, and 19.5 sacks. He was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Starting DT: Christian Wilkins

Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Wilkins may be the best defensive lineman to ever play at Clemson. He was a three-time All-American in his time with the team, appearing in 59 career games. One of the most athletic players on the field every game, Wilkins shifted between the defensive tackle and edge rusher throughout his time at Clemson. He ended his Clemson career with 250 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, and 56 quarterback pressures. The Miami Dolphins selected Wilkins with the 13th overall pick of the first round in the 2019 NFL draft.

Starting DT: Michael Dean Perry

(JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)

Did we mention underrated before? Michael Dean Perry is the best defensive lineman that doesn’t get enough acknowledgment at Clemson. Perry was named ACC Player of the Year in 1987, earning first-team All-American honors. He holds a Clemson record of 61 tackles for loss, with career marks of 28 sacks and 239 tackles in 41 games. He was selected in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, becoming one of the best Clemson players to ever play in the NFL.

Backup DT: William Perry

Credit: Photo By Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright Manny Rubio

As far as notoriety goes, The Refrigerator William Perry is one of the most well-known defensive linemen ever. Like Wilkins, Perry was a three-time All-American for the Tigers, winning ACC Player of the Year in 1984. His 27 career sacks is tied for fourth all-time in Clemson history. Perry was selected 22nd overall in the first round of the 1985 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.

Backup DT: Dexter Lawrence

Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Starting three seasons for the Tigers, Lawrence was an All-ACC selection every season while earning first-team All-American honors in 2018. A freak athlete for his size, Lawrence was selected 17th overall in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft by the New York Giants.

Starting LB: Anthony Simmons

Credit: Ted Mathias /Allsport

Simmons earned All-American status three straight years, including consensus first-team status in 1997 when he was a finalist for the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation’s best linebacker. Throughout his career, Simmons totaled 486 tackles and 52 tackles for loss while having superstar talent all around him. Simmons was drafted 15th overall in the first round of the 1998 draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

Starting LB: Levon Kirkland

Syndication: The Greenville News

Kirkland was a freak athlete who could play any linebacking position, as he proved in the NFL by transitioning from outside linebacker to inside linebacker. Kirkland finished his career with 273 tackles, 19 sacks, and 40 tackles for loss, winning multiple ACC championships. He was selected in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending up one of the best Clemson players to ever play in the NFL.

Starting LB: Isaiah Simmons

Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

No player in Clemson football history could do more on a field than Isaiah Simmons. He was the definition of versatility, being able to line up at nearly any position across the defense. He produced all over the field, recording career numbers of 253 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 28.5 tackles for loss, 22 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and four interceptions. Simmons won both the Butkus Award and ACC Defensive Player of the year in 2019. He became the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft when the Arizona Cardinals drafted him.

Backup LB: Jeff Davis

Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Nicknamed “The Judge”, Davis is one of the essential Clemson linebackers of all time. He was the backbone of Clemson’s 1981 national championship-winning defense in a year where he earned first-team All-American honors, totaling 175 tackles that season and 469 career tackles. He also earned ACC Player of the Year in the 1981 season. Davis was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ fifth-round selection in the 1982 draft.

Backup LB: Keith Adams

Credit: Craig Jones /Allsport

Keith Adams had some big years for the Tigers. He holds Clemson single-season records for sacks in a season (16.0), tackles in a season (186), and tackles in a game (27). Adams was a two-time All-American and was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 1999.

Backup LB: Wayne Simmons

(VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images)

Fittingly, Simmons will be backing up Simmons. Wayne got things done for the Tigers totaling career marks of 206 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks. Simmons was the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 1993 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.

Starting CB: Donnell Woolford

Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

An All-American in 1987 and a unanimous first-teamer in 1987, Woolford was amazing in his time with the Tigers. Woolford totaled ten interceptions in four years with the team to go along with 44 pass breakups. He played in 47 games for Clemson, doubling as a world-class punt returner. He was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.

Starting CB: A.J. Terrell

Syndication: Greenville

Terrell was consistently great for Clemson throughout his time with the team, helping lead Clemson to a 29-1 record in his two years as a starter. He was a two-time All-ACC selection credited with 107 career tackles (3.5 for loss), 20 pass breakups, six interceptions (returned for a total of 160 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown), and two forced fumbles in 44 games played. He was recently selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

Backup CB: Mackensie Alexander

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Alexander was a true shutdown corner for the Tigers. While he never recorded an interception at Clemson, he went 25 straight games to end his college career without allowing a touchdown. Teams hesitated to throw in his direction, if they did at all. He was a third-team All-America in 2015. The Minnesota Vikings drafted Alexander in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Backup CB: Justin Miller

Credit: Preston Mack-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2004 Preston Mack

Finishing his career with 13 interceptions, Miller was a pest in Clemson’s secondary. Miller finished his career with 169 tackles and 31 pass breakups while being one of the best kick returners in the country. He is tied for the Clemson record of interceptions in a season with 8. He was a second round pick in the 2005 NFL draft by the New York Jets.

Starting Safety: Brian Dawkins

Syndication: Anderson

Dawkins is one of the best Clemson players to ever play in the NFL, as he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2018. He finished his career with three All-ACC selections with career marks of 247 tackles and 11 interceptions. He was drafted in the second round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he became their best safety of all time.

Starting Safety: Terry Kinard

Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport

Kinard is more than likely the consensus best safety in Clemson football history. He still holds Clemson’s interception record with 17 career interceptions. He played for the Tigers from 1978-’82 and was named National Defensive Player of the Year by CBS Sports after his senior year, the first national award won by a Clemson football player. He was the first two-time Clemson All-American defensive back and a first-team AP All-American two years in a row. He was drafted 11th overall in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft by the New York Giants.

Backup Safety: DeAndre McDaniel

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

A First-Team All-American in 2009 and a third-team All-American in 2010, McDaniel was consistent and effective in the Clemson secondary. He was a hard hitter with 296 career tackles but was also dangerous in coverage his 15 interceptions are tied for the second most in Clemson history. In 2008 he tied Miller and ONeil’s single season record with 8 interceptions.

Backup Safety: Robert O'Neal

A three time All-ACC selection, O’Neal was the first person to set the 8 interception single season record for the Tigers, doing so his freshman season. His nine takeaways that season is still a Clemson record.

Story originally appeared on Clemson Wire