ESPN went through the exercise of ranking the best players in college football history — by jersey number.

Three Clemson legends were honored on the list – quarterback greats Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence, as well as iconic defensive tackle William “the Refrigerator” Perry.

Watson was named the best college football player of all time to wear the No. 4.

Playing at Clemson from 2014-16, Watson was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist (2015, 2016), as well as a consensus All-American (2015), two-time Manning Award winner (2015, 2016) and two-time Davey O’Brien Award winner (2015, 2016).

He guided Clemson to consecutive College Football Playoff appearances — with the school’s second national championship in 2016 — and led the Tigers to 28 wins over his final two seasons. He threw for 10,163 yards and 90 career touchdowns, while rushing for 1,934 yards and 26 more scores, and compiled a 32-3 record as a starter — at the time the best winning percentage in school history for a quarterback, later surpassed by Lawrence. Watson exited third in ACC history in total offense (12,094), behind only NC State’s Philip Rivers and Clemson’s Tajh Boyd.

“420. That’s Watson’s passing yardage in the 2017 national championship game against Alabama, which boasted the nation’s No. 1 defense entering play. Watson’s last-second touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow secured the Tigers’ first national title since 1981,” ESPN’s David Hale wrote.

“In Watson’s first game, against Georgia, he came off the bench and delivered an awe-inspiring TD pass (in a losing effort) that would set the tone for things to come. In his first start four weeks later, he threw for 435 yards and six touchdowns against North Carolina. Playing on a torn ACL, he led Clemson to its first win over South Carolina in six years in the final game of his freshman season. As a sophomore, he took Clemson to the College Football Playoff and pushed Alabama to the brink. A year later, his touchdown pass to Renfrow became one of the school’s most iconic moments. He finished in the top three in Heisman voting twice and wrapped his Clemson career with a record of 32-3, ushering the Tigers dynasty in the ACC and putting the program on the short list of annual title contenders.”

Meanwhile, ESPN named Lawrence as the best No. 16 in college football history.

During his Clemson career from 2018-20, Lawrence was a Heisman runner-up in 2020, in addition to a first-team All-American in 2020, a two-time first-team All-ACC selection (2019, 2020) and the Archie Griffin Award winner in 2018.

Lawrence, who led the Tigers to a national championship as a true freshman in 2018, concluded his career 34-2 as a starter and exited as the winningest starting quarterback in Clemson history. He completed 66.6 percent of his career passes for 10,098 yards with 90 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, to go with 18 rushing touchdowns. He made five career College Football Playoff starts and exited with Clemson career records in career winning percentage (.944), pass efficiency rating (164.3), yards per passing attempt (8.87) and tied for the most wins against Top 25 opponents (nine).

“.944. Lawrence’s win-loss record of 34-2 as a starter at Clemson gives him the third-best winning percentage by a QB since the Division I split in 1978, trailing only Miami’s Ken Dorsey (.950) and USC’s Matt Leinart (.949) (minimum 30 starts),” Hale wrote.

“The No. 16 jersey has belonged to two all-timers who — controversially — never won a Heisman: Lawrence and Peyton Manning. Both were highly touted recruits. Both became No. 1 NFL draft picks. Both had spectacular careers. Here are the key differences: Lawrence won a national championship, while Manning left the year before Tennessee won it all. Lawrence had more touchdown passes and passing yards despite playing in fewer games. Lawrence was elite from the jump, while Manning needed a year to really find his footing. Is all of that splitting hairs? Sure. But Lawrence’s final tally — 67% completions, 90 touchdown passes, 17 interceptions, 10,098 passing yards and a 34-2 record as a starting QB — more than warrants his place here.”

As for “the Refrigerator” Perry, he is listed as the best college football player ever to wear the No. 66.

At Clemson from 1981-84, Perry was a three-time All-American (1982-84) and the ACC Player of the Year in 1984, as well as a Lombardi Award finalist in 1984. He was also the first Tiger to be a three-time selection to the All-ACC team.

Perry was named to Clemson’s Centennial Football Team in 1996, and he was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. He was named to the ACC’s 50th-Year Anniversary team in 2002 and was named one of the 50 greatest male athletes in ACC history in 2003. He was also inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, and named to the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

“200. How many pounds the Fridge weighed in sixth grade, according to Clemson’s athletic website. ‘Even when I was little,’ he said, ‘I was big,’” ESPN wrote.

“Perry’s ability to move quickly in spite of his size was what devastated opposing offenses. As a senior, he was ranked first among Division I players with 2.45 TFLs per game. He was the school’s all-time leader in sacks (25) until his younger brother Michael Dean Perry broke the record three years later. He was also the ACC’s all-time leader in career TFLs (60) until his brother broke it by one in 1987. During his freshman season, Clemson won the national title. As a rookie with the Chicago Bears in 1985, he scored a touchdown as a fullback from one yard out to help them win the Super Bowl. His Super Bowl ring was the largest ever made — a size 23.”

ESPN named Clemson’s Terry Kinard (No. 43) and Banks McFadden (No. 66) as honorable mentions for their respective jersey numbers.