In this series we will pick the best players from Clemson’s Modern Era (1990-present). This is the era following the Tigers’ great teams of the Danny Ford and Charlie Pell era. Some of the players on this list might be considered among Clemson’s all-time greats and you are sure to recognize a few if not all of the names on our list.

We continue our series today by looking at the defensive tackles on Clemson’s All-Modern Era Team.

After reviewing our picks each day, please feel free to tell us if you agree with them or not by going to The Rock on our forums page. All of our forum pages are free to view and register, just like all of our content.

First Team

Rob Bodine (1989-’91): Bodine was part of perhaps the greatest defense ever assembled at Clemson, and though he was one of three First-Team All-Americans that year, he is likely to be the least remembered of the three. He is the only player on this list of the best defensive tackles to earn First-Team All-American status, yet the average Clemson fan is probably hearing about him for the first time in this article. Bodine was a transfer from North Dakota State who walked onto the team in 1989, and by 1990 the undersized middle guard was a starter on the nation’s best defense. In 1990, the Tigers allowed just 219.2 yards per game and just 70.9 yards per game on the ground. Bodine earned First-Team All-ACC honors that year after he recorded 78 tackles and 14 tackles for loss, including five sacks. He followed that up with an All-American senior campaign in which he recorded 108 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks from his middle guard position. That year, the Tigers led the nation in rushing defense as teams averaged just 61.1 yards per game. Clemson finished the year as ACC Champions. Linebackers Levon Kirkland and Ed McDaniel joined Bodine as First-Team All-Americans. Bodine was also a First-Team All-ACC performer for a second straight year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiGFvLdnNwY

Chester McGlockton (1989-’91): The late Chester McGlockton is best remembered for his strip-fumble sack of West Virginia’s Major Harris in the 1989 Gator Bowl, which he recovered himself in the end zone for a touchdown in the Tigers’ 27-7 victory. McGlockton was one of the more feared and dominating players on the Tigers’ defensive front. He was bigger, stronger, faster and more athletic than William Perry or Michael Dean Perry. He played a huge role in why Clemson had one of the nation’s best defenses in 1990 and ’91. In 1991 he was named First-Team All-ACC as the Tigers led the country in rushing defense and ranked in the top five in total defense after allowing just 272.6 yards per game. McGlockton finished his final year at Clemson with 62 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, including seven sacks. He also knocked down two passes.

Second Team

Brentson Buckner (1990-’93): Buckner was another great interior lineman that played on those 1990 and ’91 defenses. Even as a reserve in 1991, he finished the season with 56 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. When he became a starter in 1992 he earned Second-Team All-ACC honors. He finished second on the team in tackles that year with 85, which included a team-high 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He was also credited with breaking up four passes. In 1993, Buckner earned All-ACC First-Team honors as he again finished second on the team in tackles with 84, including 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He again was credited with knocking down four passes.

Grady Jarrett (2011-’14): Jarrett earned Third-Team All-American status last year after he helped the Tigers’ lead the nation in total defense at 261.8 yards allowed per game. Clemson also led the nation in 10 other defensive categories. As for Jarrett, he finished fourth on the team in tackles with 73 and had 10 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had 12 quarterback pressures and caused two fumbles on his way to First-Team All-ACC honors. His best game in 2014 was his last as he had four tackles, a game-high 3.5 tackles for loss and a caused fumble in the Tigers’ 40-6 victory against No. 24 Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Jarrett finished his Clemson career with 207 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 37 quarterback pressures, one pass breakup, two caused fumbles and four recovered fumbles in 48 games, including 37 starts. 

Third Team

Jarvis Jenkins (2007-2010): Jenkins was a key to Clemson’s defensive front in 2010 as he earned All-ACC First-Team honors in 2010 with 51 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and 16 quarterback pressures. The Clemson defense, which had four First-Team All-ACC selections, held opponents to 320.3 yards and 18.8 points per game. Jenkins played all four seasons he was at Clemson and started the last three years alongside Brandon Thompson. In 2009, he helped guide the Tigers to the ACC Championship Game for the first time as he recorded 69 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and one sack. That year, the Tigers held opponents to 314.3 yards per game.

Trevor Pryce (1996): If he would have played at Clemson for more than one year, Pryce might have left the school as the best defensive player it has ever seen. The transfer from Michigan played at Clemson just one year before turning pro and becoming a two-time Super Bowl Champion and an All-Pro Defensive tackle in his 14 years in the NFL. But in 1996 no one could stop him in the ACC. He recorded 74 tackles on his way to becoming an All-ACC First-Team selection. He had a team-high 20 tackles for loss for minus-101 yards and had 7.5 sacks for minus-79 yards. He also broke up two passes. He helped lead a Clemson defense that recorded a record 46 sacks at the time. That mark is still the second best in school history for a single-season.