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 kickers on Clemson’s All-Modern Era Team. This list is comprised of two players who earned All-American honors at Clemson, and a third who ended his career as the most accurate kicker in Clemson history.
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First Team
Chandler Catanzaro (2010-‘13): Catanzaro was one of the most accurate kickers in Clemson history as he made 37 of his last 39 career attempts. That’s a 95 percent average. Not bad for a guy who opened his career missing seven of his first 16 attempts. But Catanzaro got better as his career went along, and became perhaps the greatest kicker in Clemson history. He finished his first year by making five of his final six kicks. Starting in 2011 and finishing in 2012, he made a school record 20 straight attempts. He was also a very clutch kicker. After missing a kick in overtime at Auburn that cost the Tigers a victory in 2010, he bounced back later that season and nearly forced overtime with a last minute field goal at Florida State. In 2011, he made a 43-yard field goal as time expired to beat Wake Forest, clinching a spot in the ACC Championship Game. In 2012, he nailed a 37-yard kick as time ran off the clock to upset No. 7 LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Catanzaro just wasn’t accurate he also had a strong leg. He connected on 24 of 31 field goals on 40 yards or more, including 9 of 10 in his junior and senior seasons combined. His career long was 51 yards. In 2012, Catanzaro led the nation in field goal percentage by making 18 of 19 field goals (95 percent), which was a school record. He came back in 2013 and totaled 13 field goals on 14 attempts (93 percent). He also scored a single-season record 118 points in 2011. By the end of his career he held the all-time record for points in a career with 404, which is second in the ACC. He also owns the Clemson and ACC record for career extra points with 203. Catanzaro ended his career making 67 of his 82 career attempts, which comes outs to 82 percent, second in school history. Three times Catanzaro was named to the All-ACC Football Team.
Second Team
Chris Gardocki (1988-’90): Gardocki had one of the strongest legs in Clemson history. He shares the career-record with five field goals of 50-plus yards with Donald Igwebuike. He was a two-time All-American at Clemson in 1989 and 1990. His career long was 57 yards, which tied Obed Ariri’s school record at the time. Gardocki made 63 of his 89 attempts (71 percent) and never missed an extra point in 72 attempts. He is one of only two kickers in Clemson history to end their careers without ever missing an extra point, Mark Buchholz was the other. His best season came in 1990 when he made 22 of 28 attempts to rank third nationally in field goals made. In 1989, he made 10 of 13 field goals from 40-49 yards out and finished the year 22 of 29 overall. Gardocki was named First-Team All-ACC kicker in 1989 and 1990.
Third Team
Nelson Welch (1991-’94): Welch earned All-American honors at Clemson in 1991 as a true freshman as he made 19 of 27 field goals that year and scored 88 points. He was 5 of 6 from 40 or more yards as the Tigers went on to win the ACC Championship. Against NC State that year, he made a Clemson record five goals in one game. He finished his career with a school record 301 points. He made 72 of 101 kicks in his career, both of which are still school records. His 72 field goals were also an ACC record at the time. He is best remembered for his 32-yard field goal with 52 seconds left to play, completing Clemson’s largest comeback in school history. The Tigers’ rallied from a 28-point deficit to beat No. 10 Virginia, 29-28, in Charlottesville, Va. Welch is the only kicker in Clemson history to be named to the All-ACC Football Team in each of his four seasons. He earned first-team honors as a freshman.