The Most Famous Clemson Football Player: Ranking the Legends of the Gridiron

Voting rules: Choose the player you think is the most famous!

Jun 16, 2023 10:18 (Updated on Dec 7, 2023 10:48)

Welcome to StrawPoll, the ultimate destination for all the poll enthusiasts out there! Today, we invite you to dive into the world of Clemson football and help us determine the most famous Clemson football player of all time. With a rich history of top-tier athletes and iconic moments, we have curated a list of exceptional talents who donned the orange and purple with pride. But, we need your help to rank these gridiron legends and settle the debate once and for all! Cast your vote, share your thoughts, and even suggest a missing name that you think deserves a spot among the elite. So, gear up, put on your game face, and join the thrilling quest to crown the ultimate Clemson football icon!

Who Is the Most Famous Clemson Football Player?

1

74
votes

Atlanta Falcons · CC BY 3.0

Deshaun Watson

He led Clemson to two national championship games and won one, and was a two-time Heisman finalist. He also holds numerous school and national records.
2

41
votes
All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

Trevor Lawrence

He led Clemson to the national championship game in both of his seasons as the starting quarterback, winning one. He was also a Heisman finalist in 2020.
Trevor Lawrence in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular college football player
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular college athlete
3

27
votes

William "Refrigerator" Perry

He was a dominant defensive tackle for Clemson in the early 1980s and went on to have a successful NFL career, including winning a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears.
4

13
votes

Sammy Watkins

He was a star wide receiver for Clemson from 2011-2013, earning All-American honors and helping lead the Tigers to an ACC championship. He was also a first-round NFL draft pick.
5

14
votes
Old man gnar at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0

Brian Dawkins

He played safety for Clemson in the early 1990s before going on to a Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brian Dawkins in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous Eagles player
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous Philadelphia Eagles player
- Position 9 of 10 in Most famous person in Jacksonville, FL
6

10
votes

Keith Allison · CC BY-SA 2.0

C.J. Spiller

He was a dynamic running back for Clemson from 2006-2009, earning All-American honors and setting numerous school and conference records. He was also a first-round NFL draft pick.
7

10
votes

Dwight Clark

He played wide receiver for Clemson in the late 1970s before going on to a successful NFL career, including making one of the most famous catches in NFL history in Super Bowl XVI.
8

7
votes

Taps staff · Public domain

Banks McFadden

He was a two-time All-American for Clemson in the late 1930s and went on to have a successful career in the NFL and as a coach. He is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
9

14
votes

Terry Kinard

He played safety for Clemson in the early 1980s, earning All-American honors and helping lead the Tigers to a national championship in 1981. He was also a first-round NFL draft pick.
10

12
votes

Jeffrey Beall · CC BY-SA 3.0

Da'Quan Bowers

He was a dominant defensive end for Clemson from 2008-2010, earning All-American honors and setting a school record for sacks in a season. He was also a second-round NFL draft pick.

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About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous Clemson football player. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or player is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2032 views
222 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each player once every 24 hours. The rank of each player is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous clemson football player

Clemson University has a renowned football program that has produced some of the most talented players in the sport. With a rich history dating back to the early 1900s, it's no surprise that Clemson football has garnered a massive following over the years. The program boasts an impressive list of alumni who have gone on to achieve great success in the NFL and beyond. However, when it comes to determining the most famous Clemson football player, there are a few standout names that immediately come to mind. From legendary coaches to record-breaking quarterbacks and dominant defensive players, the competition is fierce. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the most notable players to ever don the Clemson orange and purple.