Clemson football all-time roster: Offensive 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.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Tigers have had some exceptional players who have helped Clemson achieve greatness. From the freshman who led his team to a national championship in Trevor Lawrence to Jerry Butler and “The Catch,” Clemson has seen some remarkable offensive talents come through the program.

Becoming a premier program more recently under current head coach Dabo Swinney, Clemson has seen many of the program’s best offensive talent suit up for the Tigers in the past couple of decades.

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 offensive starters and backups on Clemson football’s all-time roster:

Starting QB: Trevor Lawrence

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

To put it simply, Trevor Lawrence is among the best college quarterbacks of all time. In three seasons at Clemson, Lawrence had a 34-2 record as a starter which is the third-best winning percentage by a starting QB with at least 30 career starts in college football history. He led the Tigers to a national championship win his true freshman season, becoming the first freshman to do so since 1985. He was a first-team All-American in 2020, earning ACC Player of the Year honors the same year. Lawrence never lost a regular-season game as the Clemson starting quarterback. He was selected with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Backup QB: Deshaun Watson

Syndication: Greenville

People knew Watson would be special after he took his first snaps under center for the Tigers. Clemson legend Steve Fuller allowed Watson to wear his then retired #4 jersey, which told you what you need to know about Watson. A consensus All-American and 2015 ACC player of the Year, he finished his career with a 32-3 record, leading Clemson to their second national championship win in 2016. He was a two-time recipient of both the Davey O’Brien Award and the Manning Award. Watson was selected number 12 overall in the first round of the 2017 class.

Starting RB: Travis Etienne

(Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)

Travis Etienne is not only the best Clemson running back ever, but one of the best running backs the ACC has ever seen. He’s the ACC career record-holder for rushing yards (4,952), total touchdowns (78), rushing touchdowns (70), and points (468). He became Clemson’s fifth three-time All-American. Won back-to-back ACC player of the year awards from 2018-2019 and is the NCAA FBS record holder for most career games scoring a touchdown (46 of his 55 career games). The Jaguars selected him in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Backup RB: C.J. Spiller

Syndication: Nashville

One of the most beloved Tigers ever, Spiller was electric during his four-year Clemson career. He was a unanimous first-team All-American and ACC Player of the Year in 2009. He became the first player in the history of the Walter Camp All-America team to be first or second-team All-American at two positions in the same year. He was selected ninth overall in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills.

Starting WR1: Sammy Watkins

Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

A three-time All-American (two first-team honors), Watkins was one of the most exciting players in college football. He is currently ranked second in school history in receptions, first in receptions per game (6.7), first in receiving yards, first in receiving yards per game (94.2), first in 100-yard receiving games (15), tied for first in receiving touchdowns, second in all-purpose yards (5,129), and fifth in kickoff return yards. Watkins is one of the best to ever do it.

Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups:

Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin

Starting WR2: DeAndre Hopkins

Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Playing alongside Sammy Watkins, the two wideouts became one of the scariest duos in college football. He had 206 receptions for 3,020 yards and 27 touchdowns, 12 punt returns for 82 yards, and two kickoff returns for 32 yards in 2,059 snaps over 39 games (32 starts) in his career. He is one of three Tigers tied for the most receiving touchdowns in program history. Hopkins was selected 27th overall in the first round of the 2013 draft, where he developed into one of the best wide receivers in the NFL over the past decade.

Starting WR3: Jerry Butler

Credit: Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports

Butler was a monster. Following his senior season, he was named to the All-ACC first-team as well as the AP and Sporting News first-team All-America squads. He is most well known for “the catch,” where in the closing moments of the 1977 South Carolina game, a reception that gave the Tigers a 31-27 win over the Gamecocks. He was selected fifth overall in the 1979 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills.

Backup WR1: Mike Williams

Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Though he dealt with injuries, Mike Williams became one of the best Clemson wide receivers ever and a national champion. In three seasons with the Tigers, Williams compiled 177 receptions for 2,727 yards and 21 touchdowns in 1,871 snaps over 42 games (30 starts). He ranks fourth in Clemson’s history in receiving touchdowns, fourth in receiving yards, and seventh in receptions. He was selected with the seventh pick of the first round by the Chargers in the 2017 NFL draft.

Backup WR2: Tee Higgins

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Tied with Watkins and Hopkins for the most receiving touchdowns in Clemson history, Higgins is likely one of the most underrated players to play for the Tigers. He finished his three-year career from 2017-19 with 135 career receptions for 2,448 yards with 27 receiving touchdowns over 1,279 snaps in 43 games (30 starts).. Higgins was the first pick of the second round in the 2020 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Backup WR3: Perry Tuttle

Syndication: Greenville

Tuttle was a key piece of excellent Clemson football teams from 1979-1981. He was selected with the nineteenth overall pick in the first round of the 1982 NFL draft. He is well known for being on the cover of Sports Illustrated, celebrating Clemson’s 1981 National Championship.

Starting TE: Bennie Cunningham

A dangerous combination of speed and size, Cunningham is one of the best tight ends in ACC history. He caught 64 passes for 1,044 yards and ten touchdowns in his career in the 70s when the college football landscape didn’t throw the ball much. He became the Tigers’ first two-time first-team All-American. He was selected 28th overall in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Backup TE: Dwayne Allen

Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Allen is right up there with Cunningham. He is the first and only Clemson tight end to win the John Mackey Award in 2011, which is awarded to the best tight end in college football. He had 93 receptions for 1,079 yards and 12 touchdowns in 41 games (33 starts) in his career and was a consensus All-American in 2011 as well. He was a third-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Starting Center: Kyle Young

Syndication: Greenville

A two-time All-American and All-ACC selection in 2000 and 2001, Young started 40 games for the Tigers. Young was also a Rimington Award finalist in both 2000 and 2001, an honor awarded to the best Center in the country.

Backup Center: Dalton Freeman

Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Starting 49 games for Clemson, Freeman was a two-time Rimington award finalist. Freeman was also a two-time first-team All-ACC selection.

Starting Guard: Joe Bostic

Syndication: Greenville

Bostic might be the best offensive lineman the Tigers have had. He was a first-team All-American in 1977 and 1978 and an All-ACC selection both seasons. Bostic was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, spending ten seasons in the NFL.

Starting Guard: Stacy Seagers

Via Clemson Taps 1993

Seegers was a two-time All-American selection for the Tigers, earning first-team honors in 1993. The guard earned All-ACC honors in 1992 as well as 1993.

Backup Guard: Harry Olszewski

A first-team All-American in 1967, Olszewski started thirty consecutive games for the Tigers. He was a two-time All-ACC player, winning three ACC championships with the team. The Cleveland Browns selected the guard in the third round of the 1968 draft.

Backup Guard: John Phillips

Via Clemson Taps 1986

Phillips was a two-time All-American, being named first-team after his junior season and second-team as a senior between 1986 and 1987. He started 32 games in a Clemson uniform.

Starting Tackle: Stacy Long

Via Clemson Taps 1989

A finalist for the Outland Trophy in 1990, which is awarded to the nation’s top offensive lineman, Long is one of the Clemson has to offer. He was a two-time first-team All-American for the Tigers in 1989 and 1990.

Starting Tackle: Mitch Hyatt

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A four-time All-ACC selection (three of which were first-team selections) and two-time All-American, Hyatt played a school-record 3,754 snaps over 58 games. Hyatt won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACC Conference’s top offensive lineman twice.

Backup Tackle: Lou Cordileone

Via Clemson Taps 1959

A first-team All-American in 1959, Cordileone won two ACC championships with the Tigers. He was selected 12th overall in the first round of the 1960 NFL draft by the New York Giants.

Backup Tackle: Lee Nanney

Via Clemson Taps 1982

Nanney was a second-team All-American during Clemson’s 1981 national championship run. He started 35 games for the Tigers over his career. He was the winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the ACC and the state in 1980.

Story originally appeared on Clemson Wire