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 ends on Clemson’s All-Modern Era Team. For the record, we choose Gaines Adams, Vic Beasley and Da’Quan Bowers as first-team selections (and they are listed in alphabetical order), considering all three men had record-breaking careers and were dominant in their own right.
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First Team
Gaines Adams (2003-’06): The late Gaines Adams is best remembered for his caused fumble and subsequent 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Tigers’ 27-17 victory over Wake Forest in 2006. It is considered one of the greatest plays in Clemson history. It sparked a 24-point fourth-quarter rally for Clemson, who trailed 17-3 going into the fourth quarter. On the quarter’s first play, kicker Sam Swank lined up for a 42-yard field goal, but holder Jon Temple mishandled the snap. When he tried to run with the ball, he immediately got hit by Adams, who had burst through the line and leveled him at the 34. The ball popped into the air, where Adams snatched it and ran 66 yards for a touchdown. Adams, who decided to come back to Clemson instead of entering the NFL Draft after his junior year, finished the season with 12.5 sacks to go along with 62 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss. He was named the first Unanimous All-American at Clemson since Terry Kinard in 1982. He also earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Adams finished his career with 44.5 tackles for loss, a school-record tying 28 sacks and 168 tackles. He also batted down 21 passes in his career, caused five fumbles and blocked a punt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpiBMk-qVq8
Vic Beasley (2011-’14): Like Adams, Beasley decided to return to Clemson for his senior year instead of going pro, and like Adams he was selected in the first 10 picks of the NFL Draft the next year. Beasley went No. 8 to the Falcons this past April, while Adams was the No. 4 overall pick in 2007 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Beasley was a two-time first-team All-American and was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014. He finished career as the Tigers’ all-time sack specialist, recording 33 sacks, while pushing past greats like Adams, Michael Dean Perry and William “The Refrigerator” Perry. He recorded his 33 sacks in the final 39 games of his career. He also had 52.5 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback pressures, 11 pass break ups, seven forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two touchdowns. As a junior he posted 23 tackles for loss and 13 sacks and followed that up this past year with 21.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
Da’Quan Bowers (2008-’10): Da’Quan Bowers had perhaps the great single-season by a defensive end in Clemson history in 2010. That year he became just the fourth Clemson player ever to earn Unanimous All-American honors, joining Kinard, Adams and C.J. Spiller (2009). He also became the first Clemson player since Kinard to win a national award when he won the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player. He also won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s best defensive end. In 2010, Bowers recorded 26 tackles for loss, had 15.5 sacks, 20 quarterback pressures, two deflected passes, one caused fumble and 74 tackles, including 62 solo hits. He was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Second Team
Andre Branch (2008-’11): He recorded 197 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 40 quarterback pressures, and 11 pass breakups in 48 games, including 27 starts in his career. Branch made at least one tackle in 41 straight games. His best season came in 2011 when he helped the Tigers win their first ACC Championship in 20 years. Branch was one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award and was named as a second-team All-American by CBSSports.com, Phil Steele, Rivals.com, SI.com, and Walter Camp Foundation. He was a third-team All-American by The Associated Press, and a First-Team All-ACC selection. That year he had 85 tackles, a team-high 17 tackles for loss, a team-high 10.5 sacks, and 17 quarterback pressures in 14 games. He was second on the team in tackles, and had a team-high 64 first hits.
Third Team
Ricky Sapp (2006-’09): Sapp was a second-team All-ACC performer his senior year as he helped lead the Tigers to their first ever appearance in the ACC Championship Game in 2009. Sapp was a three-year starter at defensive end and had 41 career tackles for loss. He also had 16 career sacks and 54 quarterback pressures. The 2009 season was his best of his four-year career as he recorded 60 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five sacks. He also had 17 quarterback pressures.
Bryant McNeal (1999-2002): McNeal had 67 total tackles and nine sacks in 2002 to earn All-ACC Second Team honors. He led Clemson defensive linemen in tackles and was fifth on the team overall. His nine sacks led the Tigers as well. McNeal played in 49 consecutive games for Clemson, tying the school record for consecutive games played.