Six years ago today, a former Clemson great passed away

3 Sep 1995: Defensive lineman Chester McGlockton of the Oakland Raiders persues the run during the Raiders 17-7 win over the San Diego Chargers at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/Allsport
3 Sep 1995: Defensive lineman Chester McGlockton of the Oakland Raiders persues the run during the Raiders 17-7 win over the San Diego Chargers at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/Allsport /
facebooktwitterreddit

On this date in 2011, one of the best athletes in Clemson football history died of an apparent heart attack. 

At the young age of 42, Chester McGlockton, a member of the South Carolina sports Hall of Fame(Feb. 2011), specifically, died from cardiac hypertrophy, which is associated with high blood pressure and heart valve issues.

In 1988, McGlockton, a Parade and USA Today All-American from Whiteville, NC. signed with Clemson. He starred for Whiteville High and later redshirted for a deep 1988 Danny Ford team.

When the 6-foot-4 inch, 296 pounder got the opportunity to play in 1989, he made the most of it by leading the ACC with seven sacks. His final sack of that season came against West Virginia quarterback Major Harris in the Gator Bowl. McGlockton forced a fumble on the play and recovered the football in the end zone for a touchdown. The Tigers defeated the Mountaineers 27-17.

McGlockton left Clemson after his redshirt junior year in 1991. That same year he was named All-ACC, and he finished his career with 20.5 sacks.

During his collegiate career, he was know as one of the strongest and fastest defensive linemen in the NCAA.

The term “freakish athlete” is usually reserved for athletes with rare abilities on any sports level and that is how people described him. Because of a 500 pound bench press and 4.9 speed in the 40 yard dash, McGlockton exhibited freakish abilities. A man of his height and weight, a solid 330 pounds when he left Clemson, is rarely able to run so fast.

Levon Kirkland, the 1989 Gator Bowl Defensive MVP and former Clemson teammate of McGlockton, on what made McGlockton a special player.

“Chester could do anything on the field that he wanted. If he wanted to sack a quarterback, he could do it at anytime-whenever he wanted.”

In 1992, McGlockton was drafted 16th overall(1st round) by the Oakland Raiders. He was instantly, a dominating force on the defensive line and from 1993 to 1997, he averaged over seven sacks a season. Four of those years(1994-97), McGlockton made the NFL Pro Bowl.

McGlockton was a very disruptive tackle and numbers like 51 career sacks and 78 tackles in 1993, prove it.

During his 12-year career, he played for the Raiders, Kansas City, Denver and his final season with the New York Jets. He retired in 2003.

After his career was over, McGlockton decided to become a coach and held a defensive assistant position with the Standford Cardinals. He took the job in 2010 and after less than two years in the program, he left a continual, positive impact on his players and colleagues.

“I think one of the things that really, he taught me, was to always step back and look at it. And kinda figure out your own way of doing it. Stay optimistic, stay positive,” said former Stanford defensive end Stephen Anderson.

Next: Clemson injuries heading into ACC Championship

“When you’re influenced by someone in such a positive way,” Stanford head coach David Shaw said. “You gotta keep that with you, even when they are no longer with you.”