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 cornerbacks on Clemson’s All-Modern Era Team. This list is comprised of three players who earned All-American honors at Clemson.
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First Team
Tye Hill (2002-’05): Hill was a converted running back turned cornerback in the spring of 2003. He started all but two games as a cornerback and became a First-Team All-American before being drafted No. 15 overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2006 NFL Draft. At Clemson, Hill earned All-ACC First Team and First-Team All-American honors in 2005. During his junior year, Hill developed a reputation as a shutdown corner when he broke up a team-high 21 passes. He finished that season with 52 tackles. In his senior campaign, seldom did the ball come to his side, but he still broke up seven passes and had three interceptions. He also produced a sack and five tackles for loss to go with his 54 overall.
Justin Miller (2002-’04): Miller was a two-time All-ACC selection in 2002 and 2004. As a true freshman, he earned Freshman All-American honors after tying a school-record with eight interceptions. He also had 61 tackles as a freshman, broke up nine more passes and caused two fumbles. In 2004, Miller recorded three interceptions had nine passes defended and tallied 54 tackles. He finished his career with 13 interceptions, 169 tackles, three caused fumbles and two tackles for loss. He also had 31 PBUs, including a career-high 13 in 2003. Miller was named a second-team All-American as a kickoff return specialist in 2004. He averaged 33.1 yards per return in 2004, third best in Clemson history. He also averaged a single-season record 35.1 yards per kick return in 2002.
Second Team
Brian Mance (1999-’02): In 2002, Mance earned All-American honors when he plucked six passes out of the air, while breaking up 11 more passes. He also had 62 tackles that season on his way to being named All-ACC. For his career, Mance had 164 tackles, three tackles behind the line of scrimmage, 12 interceptions and 23 PBUs. He also caused three fumbles. He also averaged 16.7 yards as a punt return specialist and 23.9 as a kickoff return specialist.
Dexter Davis (1988-’90): Davis played on some of the Tigers best defenses, and twice was selected as an All-ACC cornerback in 1989 and 1990. In 1989, he recorded three interceptions on a defense that yielded just 265.3 yards and 11.5 points per game. Davis and the rest of the secondary held their opponents to 168.8 yards through the air, while recording 21 interceptions. Opponents completed just 48.8 percent of their passes. In 1990, Davis led the Tigers with six interceptions, including one he returned 30 yards for a touchdown. The Clemson secondary had 16 interceptions that year and held opponents 148.5 yards through the air, while completing just 48.4 percent of their passes. Davis also returned a fumble 52 yards for a touchdown that turned the momentum in the Tigers’ 24-17 victory at NC State.
Third Team
Dexter McCleon (1993-’96): McCleon went from cornerback to quarterback and back to cornerback in his four-year career at Clemson. In the end he finished his career with nine interceptions and earned All-ACC first-team honors in 1996. In 1993, he led the Tigers with three interceptions, while also rushing for 156 yards and a touchdown on offense and throwing for 211 yards and another score. He moved back to the defensive side of the ball in 1994 and led the Tigers with four interceptions, while recording 35 tackles and eight PBUs. He recorded two more interceptions in 1995, and by 1996 no one was throwing in his direction. He was taken in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft with the 40th pick by the St. Louis Rams. He later won a Super Bowl and played in another as a member of the Rams.
Bashaud Breeland (2011-’13): Breeland developed a reputation as one of the more physical corners in the ACC. He finished his career with 159 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, six interceptions, two quarterback pressures, 20 pass breakups, and two caused fumbles over 37 games, including 24 starts. He was named a second-team member of the All-ACC Football Team after he recorded a career-high 74 tackles in 2013. He also had a team-high four interceptions and 13 PBUs.