The Top 10 Quarterbacks in Clemson Football History
9. Cullen Harper
I know a lot of Tiger fans are wondering what this guy is doing in the top-10. None of them remember what he did for the Clemson football program in his two years of starting, everyone just wants to point to his dismal senior year.
Cullen Harper has to be considered in the top-10 quarterback list for Clemson football. Why? His stats. Harper, believe it or not, finished the third all-time Clemson football passing leader. The only two quarterbacks (yardage-wise) he finished behind were Tajh Boyd and Charlie Whitehurst.
Let’s also not forget Harper did this in only two seasons as the Tigers’ starting quarterback and didn’t even start every game. He only played in 31 total games and, in that time, passed for 5,762 yards, 42 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Cullen Harper was actually a Heisman Candidate his Junior season at Clemson in 2007, where he posted monster numbers (2,991 yards, 26 touchdowns, only 6 interceptions), and had the Tigers in position to win the ACC Atlantic Division and play in its first ever ACC Championship Game.
Clemson football had to beat Boston College, led by Matt Ryan, to clinch the division. Both quarterbacks played well and Cullen Harper put his body on the line as he dove into the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Matt Ryan and the Eagles scored a touchdown with 1:46 remaining. In stepped Cullen Harper. The Tigers drove right down the field and Cullen Harper put a pass right on the money to Clemson’s most reliable receiver Aaron Kelly down around the 3-yard line of Boston College, but Kelly dropped the ball. That pass was perfect and you can’t fault Harper for that loss, he gave everything he had.
Unfortunately, his great junior campaign was overshadowed by a terrible 2008 season. Clemson came into the year the favorite in the ACC and had National Championship aspirations, but that all vanished really quickly with a loss to Alabama to open the season and the rest was history.
Next: Number 8 Quarterback