Clemson Football: The 10 Greatest Tigers of the Danny Ford era

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 28: Retired coach Danny Ford of the Clemson Tigers takes the field during pre-game ceremonies before play against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 2009 ACC Football Championship Game December 5, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 28: Retired coach Danny Ford of the Clemson Tigers takes the field during pre-game ceremonies before play against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 2009 ACC Football Championship Game December 5, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Linebacker Levon Kirkland #99 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sideline during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Three Rivers Stadium on September 24, 2000 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Titans defeated the Steelers 23-20. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Linebacker Levon Kirkland #99 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sideline during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Three Rivers Stadium on September 24, 2000 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Titans defeated the Steelers 23-20. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

Greatest Clemson football players of Danny Ford era: 2. Levon Kirkland

You can’t go wrong when you’re talking about potentially the most versatile and dominant linebacker in the history of Clemson football.

Kirkland, a Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, finished his Tiger career with 40 tackles and 19 career sacks.

Though he didn’t play for Danny Ford for his entire career- as a matter of fact, only two seasons were under Ford- he developed greatly under the coach and left the program as one of the most accomplished linebackers in its history.