What time is Clemson kickoff?

For the longest time, playing quarterback at Clemson was seen as more of a game-managing position or a run-first position. And that worked.

Steve Fuller had a great career. Homer Jordan was the MVP in the Orange Bowl win that resulted in a national title. Rodney Williams owned the record for most wins by a Clemson quarterback. Woody Dantzler was a dynamic talent who couldn’t be contained. Charlie Whitehurst beat South Carolina four times. And there were others.

But that all changed with the passing talents of Tajh Boyd, who remains the program’s completions and touchdowns leader. Boyd certainly changed the Clemson program the way only a few players have, and that led to a new kind of Clemson quarterback.

That continued with Deshaun Watson, who won a national title, and then on to Trevor Lawrence, who claimed the program’s third national title.

So, for 2025 the question becomes: Where does Cade Klubnik stand? More importantly, can he join those others with a national title? And can Christopher Vizzina follow Klubnik's lead and get ready to continue Clemson’s strong run of quarterbacks?

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson QBs?

• Trevor Lawrence (2018-20) – 1AA, 1D, QB on Clemson’s third national championship team. Career Win Pct. Leader (94.4), career pass efficiency rating record (164.3), career yards per passing attempt record (8.87), tied career record for most wins against Top 25 opponents (nine), did not lose a regular season game. 10,098 passing yards, 90 passing TDs, 943 career rushing yards and 18 rushing TDs. 
• Deshaun Watson (2014-16) – QB on team that ended 35-year national championship gap. 1AA, 1D. 10,163 passing yards, 90 career passing TDs. Career completion percentage leader (.674). 12,094 yards total offense. 1,934 rushing yards, 26 rushing TDs. 
• Tajh Boyd (2010-13) – 1AA, Career Completions Leader (901), Career Passing TDs Leader and ACC leader (107), Career 300-yd. Games Leader (18), Career Total Offense Leader (13,069), Career Snaps by QB (2,963). 12 of the top-14 single-game passing yardage totals in school history. 11,904 passing yards and 107 passing TDs, 1,165 rushing yards and 26 rushing TDs
• Steve Fuller (1975-78) – 1D, 4,078 passing yards, 22 passing TDs, 1,665 rushing yds, 21 rushing TDs.
• Homer Jordan (1980-82)  – First Clemson national championship QB. 3,509 passing yards, 14 passing TD, 925 rushing yards, 11 rushing TD.
• Rodney Williams (1985-88) – Career Consecutive Games Completing A Pass leader (46), 4,082 passing yards, 16 passing TD, 809 rushing yards, 11 rushing TD.
• Woody Dantzler (1998-2001) – 5,634 passing yards, 36 passing TD, 2,761 rushing yards (career leader among QBs), 27 rushing TD
• Charlie Whitehurst (2002-05) – 9,665 passing yards, 49 passing TD, 98 rushing yards, 10 rushing TD

Who are your favorites? Tell us in the comments at YouTube.com/ClemsonKickoff so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

Running back might be the deepest position Clemson can boast through the modern history of the program. Fred Cone’s name adorns the Ring of Honor in Death Valley. Lester Brown changed the game for the Tigers in the late 1970s, and that led to Cliff Austin and Chuck McSwain as key pieces on the 1981 championship team. 

Kevin Mack bridged to the mid-1980s dynamic duo of Kenny Flowers and Terrence Flagler, and Terry Allen became a star in the late 1980s.

The mid-1990s showcased Raymond Priester, a workhorse back who still holds the program record for most rushing yards in a game and most career snaps by a running back.

But then came the program-changer himself: C.J. Spiller, Dabo Swinney’s most important recruit, who along with Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins and others, built the foundation for the later championship teams. Spiller’s list of records is too long to get into, even as he played alongside the “Thunder” to his “Lightning” in James Davis, a terrific talent in his own right.

Andre Ellington, a dynamic talent himself, kept the “run” going (see what I did there?), and he was followed by two of the greatest backs in program history.

Wayne Gallman served as one of the pivotal pieces to the 2016 championship team (who can forget his performance in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma in 2015?), and if it’s possible, he might be overlooked by some. 

Gallman then passed things over to some who matched (and passed?) Spiller. Yep, that’s hard to believe, but look at Travis Etienne’s accomplishments: national champion and Clemson career rushing leader, season rushing leader, career rushing TD leader, career TD leader and career scoring leader ... WOW.

Will Shipley lived up to his recruiting hype with an outstanding career, and then Phil Mafah followed that up last year. 
As the 2025 season approaches, the question becomes: Who’s next? Adam Randall, David Eziomume, Jay Haynes, Jarvis Green and true freshman Gideon Davidson – a star of Clemson’s 2025 recruiting class after maintaining a long-term commitment to Spiller and head coach Dabo Swinney – will all get a chance to make their case.

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson running backs?

• Wayne Gallman (2013-16) – 3,429 yards, 34 TD, 17 100-yard games
• Travis Etienne (2017-20) – 1AA, 1D, Career Rushing Leader (4,952), Season Rushing Leader (1,658), Career Yards per Carry Leader (7.2), Career Rushing TD Leader (70), Career TD Leader (78), Career Scoring Leader (468)
• C.J. Spiller (2006-09) – 1AA, 1D, Career RB Receptions Leader (123), Career RB Receiving Yards Leader (1,420), Career Kickoff Returns Leader (2.052), Career TDs of 80+ yds (11), Consecutive TD Games (14), Career All-Purpose Yds. (7,588)
• Fred Cone (1948-50) – ROH, first to rush for 2,000 yards, 8th career rushing TDs (30), one of just two players to start for two undefeated teams (1948, 1950)
• Terrence Flagler (1982-86) – 1AA, 1D, 2,080 yards (1176 as sr.), 17 TD
• Terry Allen (1987-89) – 2,778 yards (9th), 28 TDs (10th)
• Raymond Priester (1994-97) – Most Rushing Yards in a Game (263), Career Snaps by RB (2,329)
• Andre Ellington (2009-12) – 3,436 yards, 33 TD, 59 rec., 505 yds rec.
• Will Shipley (2021-23) – 2,747 yards, 31 tD, 85 catches, 602 yrs rec.
• Kevin Mack (1980-83) – 1D (supp.), 1,420 yards (862 as sr.), 12 TD
• Bobby Gage (1945-48) – 1D, 1,309 yards

Who are your favorites? Tell us in the comments at YouTube.com/ClemsonKickoff so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

For the longest time, wide receiver play at Clemson seemed like an afterthought, even with talented players like Dwight Clark, Jerry Butler and Perry Tuttle. The program didn’t throw the ball much back in those days, and there really weren’t enough passes to go around for there to be many options. 

Yes, a Rod Gardner or a Derrick Hamilton sprinkled in here or there would put up highlight-reel plays. But the excitement has taken off with the offense’s new look under Dabo Swinney, which has showcased wide receivers throughout his tenure. 

That transformation started with DeAndre Hopkins, who evolved the position at Clemson, and Sammy Watkins, who lit the program on fire and holds too many records to list. Enter the term “WRU” in Death Valley. And it has carried over to Mike Williams, Tee Higgins, Hunter Renfrow, Artavis Scott and more (and it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon).

The 2025 wide receiver room boasts talents including Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco, TJ Moore, Tyler Brown, Tristan Smith (a transfer! gasp!), Cole Turner and more.

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson wide receivers?

• Sammy Watkins (2011-13): First-team All-American, first-round draft pick. Season Receptions Leader (101), Career 100-yd Games Leader (15), 3,391 yards (career leader), 27 TD (career co-leader), 240 receptions. 
• Mike Williams (2013-16): 177 receptions, 2,727 yards, 21 TDs
• DeAndre Hopkins (2010-12): First-round draft pick, 3,020 yards, 27 TD (career co-leader), 206 receptions.
• Jerry Butler (1975-78): Ring of Honor. First-team All-American, first-round draft pick. 2,115 yards, 11 TD, 131 receptions.
• Artavis Scott (2014-16): 245 receptions (career record), 2,458 yards, 19 TDs
• Hunter Renfrow (2015-18): 186 receptions, 2,133 yards, 15 TDs
• Perry Tuttle (1978-81): First-team All-American, first-round draft pick. 2,329 yards, 16 TD
• Rod Gardner (1997-2000): First-team All-American, first-round draft pick. 2,302 yards, 12 TD
• Derrick Hamilton (2001-03): 163 receptions, 2,218 yards, 15 TD
• Tee Higgins (2017-19): 135 receptions, 2,448 yards, 27 TDs
• Dwight Clark (1976-78): 543 yards, 3 TD

Who are your favorites? Tell us in the comments at YouTube.com/ClemsonKickoff so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

2025 Clemson Football Season Previews with Best-All-Time Tigers by Position

Each podcast episode covers both the season preview and the best all-time Clemson Tigers at each position, while each blogs is shorter and only covers either the best ever or the 2025 preview. Here are all the links you could need!

Clemson Defensive Tackles

Podcast, https://youtu.be/G7BSHStxmBA 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-defensive-tackles-2025-season-preview

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/peter-woods-demonte-capehart-power-clemsons-defensive-tackles-in-2025-quick-look

Clemson Defensive Ends

Podcast, https://youtu.be/kO_I18rNt_I

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-defensive-ends-daquan-bowers-vic-beasley-shone-in-death-valley-plus-t.j.-parker-leads-2025-tigers-des-season-preview

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/t.j.-parker-forges-clemson-defensive-ends-path-ahead-quick-look

Clemson Linebackers

Podcast, https://youtu.be/c8S1Ib1IFQk

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time:  https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/levon-kirkland-jeff-davis-best-ever-clemson-linebackers-plus-tigers-2025-lbs-preview-includes-sammy-brown

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/sammy-brown-wade-woodaz-pace-clemson-linebackers-in-2025-quick-look

Clemson Safeties 

Podcast, https://youtu.be/3qHwV1cCt84   

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-ever-clemson-safeties-brian-dawkins-set-standard-chased-by-others-including-khalil-barnes-in-2025  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/khalil-barnes-keys-clemsons-safeties-in-2025-quick-look   

Clemson Cornerbacks

Podcast: https://youtu.be/gaSVwe_ueZM 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-cornerbacks-and-tigers-2025-season-preview    

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/avieon-terrell-ashton-hampton-lead-clemson-cornerbacks-in-2025  

Clemson Wide Receivers

Podcast, https://youtu.be/s0mQ70__Bq4  

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-wide-receivers-2025-preview-tigers-wr-best-all-timer  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-wide-receiver-room-boasts-bryant-wesco-antonio-williams-t.j.-moore-and-more-in-2025-quick-look  

Clemson Tight Ends

Podcast, https://youtu.be/5GS6EKIMhag 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-tight-ends-all-time-bennie-cunningham-dwayne-allen-tigers-2025-te-preview 

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/olsen-patt-henry-steers-clemsons-tight-ends-in-2025-quick-look  

Clemson Offensive Line

Podcast, https://youtu.be/pqoXa9D_LZA   

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-ever-clemson-offensive-linemen-john-simpson-joe-bostic-plus-tigers-2025-season-preview  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview,  https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/blake-miller-tristan-leigh-bookend-clemson-offensive-line-in-2025

Clemson Running Backs

Podcast, https://youtu.be/GTkz93TxyGI 

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-running-backs-travis-etienne-will-shipley-followed-footsteps-of-c.j.-spiller-terry-allen-many-more 

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/adam-randall-sparks-clemson-running-backs-in-2025-quick-look  

Clemson Quarterbacks

Podcast, https://youtu.be/d2fX1Gs1oVg  

Blog, Clemson’s best of all time: https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/best-clemson-quarterbacks-all-time-and-tigers-2025-qbs-preview  

Blog, 2025 quick-look preview, https://clemsonkickoff.com/news/clemson-quarterback-cade-klubnik-critical-to-tigers-2025-quick-look

Tight end hasn’t ever really been a focus for Clemson’s program with the focus more on blocking than catching passes. But there have been some talented players who have shined through.

That goes back to Bennie Cunningham in the 1970s, and he made an impact with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well. 
Dwayne Allen was a revelation in the early years of the Dabo Swinney years and was one of the most dangerous weapons on those teams. 

Jordan Leggett built on what Allen did and was a pivotal part of the 2016 national championship team.
More recently, Jake Briningstool had an outstanding career and is the career tight end receptions leader (127).

In 2025, Olson Patt-Henry and Josh Sapp return with ample experience, while Christian Bentancur and Logan Brooking look to make an impact – with basketball star Ian Schieffelein bringing his athleticism and his 6-8 frame to the team as he tries to aid the cause as well.

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson tight ends?

• Bennie Cunningham (1973-75) – First-team all-american (1974), first-round draft pick, 1,044 yards, 10 TD, 64 receptions, led team in receiving in 73 and 74, ACC 50-year anniversary team (2002)
• Dwayne Allen (2009-11) – 1,079 yards, 12 TD (8 as a Sr.), 93 receptions, Mackey Award as top tight end, 1AA, Season TE Receptions Co-leader (50)
• Jordan Leggett (2013-16) – Career TE TD Receptions (18), 1,598 yards, 18 TD, 112 receptions
• Jake Briningstool (2021-24) – Career TE Receptions Leader (127), Season TE Receptions Co-leader (50), 9 rec. In a game, 1,380 yards, 17 TD, 127 receptions
• Davis Allen (2019-22) – 951 yards, 12 TD, 88 receptions
• Brandon Ford (2009-12) – 728 yards, 12 TD, 65 receptions, 9 rec. In a game
• John McMakin (1969-71) – 1,255 yards, 11 TD, 93 receptions, 9 rec. In a game
• KD Dunn (1982-84) – 519 yards, 9 TD, 47 rec.
• Michael Palmer (2006-09) – 825 yards, 8 TD, 73 rec.

Who are your favorites? Tell us in the comments at YouTube.com/ClemsonKickoff so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!