After sifting through each sport’s outstanding freshman candidates and revealing the best that didn’t make the cut, it’s time to get into the top ten freshman seasons in Clemson Tiger history. The first four selections–the bottom four on the list–played four different sports. In fact, within this top ten list, eight different athletic programs are represented. The diversity of the overall group was surprising once it was pared down.
To start the countdown, we check out a stellar female athlete from the modern era, an integral part of Clemson’s second national championship team, a men’s track and field athlete whose freshman campaign tied somewhat into the Olympics, and perhaps the most feared Tiger defensive player of all-time.
10. Ani Mijacika, Women’s Tennis, 2007: Mijacika’s career took off immediately upon her arrival on campus. She led the Tigers in both singles (25) and doubles (27) wins as a freshman, and her 12 three-set wins are tied for second-best in school history regardless of class. She became the first Clemson player to be named ACC Freshman of the Year, then she duplicated that feat by becoming the first Tiger to be named the ITA Southeast Region Player of the Year. In addition, Mijacika was part of the most accomplished doubles tandem in school history, as she and partner Federica Van Adrichem reached the national semifinals.
9. Bruce Murray, Men’s Soccer, 1984: Murray is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and his distinguished career began with a fantastic inaugural season at Clemson. His 15 assists rank among the top ten in school history and led the ACC during the 1984 season. He was particularly great during the NCAA Tournament, scoring three of the Tigers’ 12 goals en route to their first national title. Murray was named the Rookie of the Year by Soccer America, and he was named to the All-ACC Second Team.
8. Ato Modibo, Men’s Track & Field, 1999: Modibo has, by far, the most unique story represented on this list. He won both the 400 dash and the 4×400 relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships, then he earned All-America honors in both events at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He also won the ACC title in both the indoor and outdoor 400 dash, as well as the indoor 4×400 relay. Modibo was the conference’s Freshman of the Year in both indoor and outdoor.
Several records still stand from Modibo’s freshman campaign, including his times in the indoor 300 (33.42), outdoor 400 (44.87), and indoor 500 (1:01.80). He also still holds the Clemson freshman record in the indoor 400 (46.00). The reason Modibo’s freshman season is unique is that he was also preparing to qualify for the 2000 Athens Summer Olympics representing Trinidad & Tobago. He eventually ran at the games, the first of his three career Olympic appearances.
7. Anthony Simmons, Football, 1995: Before there were any of the modern-day freaky freshmen on the Clemson football team, Simmons came out of nowhere to dominate the defensive side of the ball. His 150 tackles and 11 tackles for loss led the 1995 squad that featured a solid defense. The ACC named him its Rookie of the Year—the only Clemson defensive player to ever earn that honor—and UPI named him the National Freshman of the Year. Simmons was both a first-team all-conference selection and a third-team all-America selection, as well.
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