Clemson Tigers Rake in the Honors

By MikeBullock  |   Thursday, December 03, 2009  |  Comments( 0 )

Clemson Tigers
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The electric C.J. Spiller raced his way to ACC Player of the Year honors this season, with his record setting season and more milestones than some players get in an entire career.

Among his many stellar accomplishments this year alone are four return touchdowns in eighteen attempts. That’s six points for every four point five touches. Spiller has nine offensive touchdowns on plays that began from Clemson’s forty four yard line or deeper. He’s also the only player in the FBS with at least one touchdown in every game he played. You can bet your bottom dollar the NFL scouts are drooling on this guy and his 183.92 yards per game average. Spiller has the distinction of making both first and second teams this season.

Tight End Michael Palmer will also catch the eye of more than one NFL scout. Palmer has thirty-eight catches with an 11.5 yards per catch average totaling 439 yards, and putting him in the end zone four times. His total yardage is the highest ever in Clemson history and certainly worthy of the honors he’s received.

DeAndre McDaniel picked off opposing quarterbacks eight times this year to lead the ACC in interceptions. McDaniel also earned National Defensive Player of the Week after his stellar performance against Miami in week seven, with two interceptions and a touchdown.

While the above three made the first team, they might not have if it weren’t for the efforts of the four who landed on the second team. Wide receiver Jacoby Ford (fifty completions for 703 yards and five touchdowns), defensive end Ricky Sapp (fifty two tackles, fourteen for a loss and five sacks), offensive guard Thomas Austin and offensive tackle Chris Hairston were among those named.

Joining the ranks of his honored players is head coach Dabo Swinney who was runner-up in the ACC Coach of Year voting. And, Tiger QB Kyle Parker landed second in the ACC rookie of the year poll.

While now isn’t the time to bathe in the prestige, this team should certainly feel proud that they’ve left their mark on ACC history. With big time games still ahead this week and possibly in January at the Orange Bowl, there’s still work to be done. However, if they can muster more of the All-ACC effort that brought them this far, the future is still bright for this team.
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