2. Return to
Museum James Davis
• At the University of Clemson, Davis was party of a dynamic tandem called
“Thunder and Lightning” with another exciting RB named C.J. Spiller. Davis was
considered the “thunder”, but despite his size has tremendously underrated speed
and showed good hands for a “big guy”. Davis did see a dip in his production from
his junior to his senior season, but it wasn’t for lack of effort on Davis’ part. The
offensive line suffered injuries throughout the season, not to mention the fact four
of the previous year’s starters were seniors and graduated to the NFL or other
career paths.Davis needed just 837 yards to become the all-time leading rusher in
Clemson history, but he fell short with just 751 (but he did have 11 touchdowns).
His junior season saw him rush for 1,064 yards and 10 TDs which followed a
sophomore year that included nearly 1,200 yards rushing and 17 TDs. All told,
Davis finished his college campaign with 3,881 rushing yards and 47 TDs. Davis is
considered a “move the chains” type of runner, who has the build of a Jamal Lewis
and has often been compared to Lewis in his hayday. The great thing about Davis is
that he’s versatile… he can run hard between the tackles to pick up the tough
yards, but he’s also explosive enough to bounce outside and take it the distance.
Davis displayed good hands in college, catching 51 passes for 441 yards and 2 TDs,
and so far in camp and pre-season games. He’s also noted as a very good blocker
and has great awareness to pick up the blitz. One other note… Davis didn’t lose a
single fumble in his entire college career… which is remarkable in itself
3. Return to
Museum Da’Quan Bowers
• Bowers as the size, strength, and technique to be effective at either right end or left end. Plays
with good functional strength while extending arms quickly at the snap to lock-out the defender,
shed, and make plays on the ball carrier in run support. Very consistent and strong against the
run. Has the athleticism to be a very effective pass rusher. Powerful off the ball and can drive the
defender into the pocket and disrupt the passing game. Very savvy in his pass rush, will use
timing and deception to set his defender up by releasing slowly off the snap, then quickly
bursting inside to beat the defender and make a play on the quarterback- athleticism and
footwork make this possible. Throws his body around, and will dive to make the tackle away from
his frame. Sound, wrap-up tackler. Plays with good intensity and aggression. Good instincts and
can anticipate the snap count.
• Bowers Finalist for the Lombardi Award, Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Award for 2010. He
lead the nation in sacks through games of November 20 with 15.5, he was second in tackles for
loss per game with 24 in 11 games. He set Clemson's record for sacks in a season by a defensive
linema and he broke the record of 12.5 set in 2006 by Gaines Adams. Adams and Bowers were
close friends when Adams died suddenly in February of 2010 and he wears #93, the same number
Adams wore at Clemson from 2003-06. He also broke Gaines Adams record for consecutive
games with a sack when he had two at Wake Forest..He is a gifted musician who has been
guitarist in his father's Gospel band for the last few years.
4. Return to
Museum CJ Spiller
• A dynamic athlete with blazing speed, Spiller has drawn favorable comparisons to the New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush
for his big-play ability. The Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2009 -- Spiller was the first Tiger to earn that
honor since Michael Dean Perry in 1987 -- he also became just the third unanimous All-American selection in school
history.
• As a pass catcher, Spiller hauled in 123 passes for 1,420 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is only the second ballcarrier in
Clemson annals to gain over 1,000 yards receiving in a career, as he also established Tiger running back career-records for
receptions and touchdown catches (11). As a senior, he became the first player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to
rush for over 1,000 yards (1,212) and gain over 500 yards receiving (503) in the same season. He is also just the sixth ACC
player to generate over 3,000 yards rushing and over 1,000 yards receiving in a career.
• There is much more to Spiller's game that just his exploits coming out of the backfield. His total of eight kicks returned for
touchdowns (seven kickoffs, one punt) tied the NCAA all-time record. His seven kickoff returns for scores set an NCAA
mark, topping the previous record of six that was first established by Anthony Davis of Southern California (1972-74). He
is one of only seven players in conference annals to gain over 2,000 yards via kickoff returns, totaling 2,052 yards.
• The ACC's active scoring leader with 308 points, he is just the 16th player in conference history to score over 300 points in
a career, ranking second on Clemson's all-time record chart. He had 21 career touchdowns of 50 yards or more; more than
Tim Brown, Rocket Ismail, or Bush, similar types of players, had in their careers.
• By the time he ended his Clemson career, Spiller set 31 school records in various categories, including the record for all-
purpose yards and returns for touchdowns. He joined Southern California's Reggie Bush as the only players in college
football history with 3,000 rushing yards, 1,500 kickoff-return yards, 1,000 receiving yards, and 500 punt-return yards.
5. Return to
Museum Charlie Whitehurst
• Whitehurst has very good size and mobility for his position. He has above average athleticism, good
feet, agility and decent quickness to go along with good production prior to 2004. He has been
highly productive prior to his junior year, but he struggled throwing the deep ball in 2004 and made
numerous questionable decisions that resulted in a career-high 17 interceptions. He improved
somewhat in 2005, as he reduced his interceptions to ten, but he managed only eleven touchdown
passes in his final season.
• Whitehurst redefined his mechanics during the 2005 offseason, showing a quicker release,
especially on short to intermediate throws, improving his accuracy in the process (completed 67.4
percent of his attempts). He keeps the ball up and stays on top. Whitehurst has good arm strength
and throws a nice ball with touch on the intermediate routes. With a new offensive coordinator in
place for 2005 in Rob Spence, Whitehurst demonstrated the release and delivery he showed in the
past. He stands tall in the pocket and does a very nice job of putting zip on the ball when throwing
the crossing patterns.
• In 44 games with the Tigers, Whitehurst completed 817 of 1,368 passes (59.7 percent) for 9,665
yards, 49 touchdowns and 46 interceptions. He set forty-one school records, including career marks
for most pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, 200-yard passing games (24) and 300-yard
passing games (8). He also scored ten times while netting 98 yards on 266 carries. Whitehurst
started a record 37 consecutive games for the Tigers between 2002 and 2005, but the streak ended
when he did not play against Duke due to a sore shoulder. Whitehurst had surgery on Dec. 1, 2005
to correct the problem, returning to the field for his final game vs. Colorado in the Champs Sports
Bowl.
6. Return to
Museum Jacoby Ford
• Jacoby Ford is one of Clemson's finest all-purpose players in history. He did not get
the credit for his all-purpose play because his career coincided with C.J. Spiller's at
Clemson. Ford and Spiller finished as the NCAA's greatest all-purpose duo in
history with a combined 11, 671 all-purpose yards. He had 1986 career reception
yards to finish eighth in school history .He has 16 career touchdown receptions to
rank tied for fourth in Clemson history. Ford was tied with Terry Smith entering the
Kentucky game in the Music City Bowl, then moved ahead of him with his
touchdown catch in that game....ironically, Smith had his final TD catch against
Kentucky in a bowl game. He ranks sixth in school history in career kickoff return
yards with 1124 and is eight in punt return yards with 479. Also, he had 494 career
rushing yards and had incredible 8.5 rushing average over his career, first in
Clemson history among players with at least 50 carries. Jacoby caught at least one
pass in 29 straight games to close his career and caught at least two passes in 27 of
those 29 games. He played in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL on January 30, 2010.
Ford had eight career touchdowns of 50 yards or more, second best in Clemson
history behind C.J. Spiller. He joined Spiller as one of two Tigers in history to
account for a touchdown five different ways.He had 21 touchdowns scored in his
career. He was also an All-American and National Champion in track at Clemson
.He won the NCAA Championship in the 60 meters indoors last February.
