The 5 Best Quarterbacks in Clemson Football History
By Ben Greeson
2. Charlie Whitehurst (02′-05′)
Charlie Whitehurst was a tall, skinny kid out of Alpharetta, GA when he stepped foot on the Clemson campus. Son of a former NFL QB David Whitehurst, being a quarterback was in his blood. Charlie won the adoration of Clemson fans with not only his arm, but his heart.
Tough as nails, a never-say-die attitude and a true leader on the field, Charlie began a wave of talent that chose Clemson over the more sexy programs at the time.
Charlie who came in at the tail-end of the Woody Dantzler era, started his career as a back up to “Shotgun” Willie Simmons. Talent always wins in cases such as these and it didn’t take long for Whitehurst to cement his name in Clemson history.
Charlie left Clemson as the all time leading passer in program history. His 9665 yards passing was a Clemson record for over a decade. 2003 was his best year statistically. Charlie threw for 3561 and 21 touchdowns.
He averaged 273.9 yards per game and led the Tigers to a 9-4 record, a national ranking and an upset victory over a top ten Tennessee team in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.
The talent that surrounded Charlie came in waves it seemed. He had a basketball/track team at wide receiver. Names like Derrick Hamilton, Kevin Youngblood and Airese Curry were on the receiving end of his tight spiral passes.
However, you’ve got to run the ball to be successful at any level in which the game is played and Charlie never had a stand out back or an offensive line to speak of. I’ve never felt more sorry for a player as I did watching Charlie Whitehurst in a game against Texas Tech in the 02′ Tangerine Bowl. He was hit after every play.
And not just a love tap, he was driven violently into the ground play after play and he refused to quit. Picking himself up after every blow. He gained a lifetime of respect after that game, not only in my eyes, but in the eyes of the entire Tiger nation. Charlie can hang his hat, and his legacy on one nugget in particular.
He never lost to South Carolina. A perfect 4-0 versus the bitter rival. In fact, Whitehurst finished his career with 912 yards and 5 touchdown against the Gamecocks, including the infamous 63-17 rout in Columbia. A game that is still mentioned almost 15 years after the fact.
If your name is still relevant, in the history of a program 11 years since your last game. You deserve to be on this list.
Next: No. 1