Clemson football has a chance to add one more of its proud alumni to halls of the College Football Hall of Fame.
The College Football Hall of Fame has announced the ballot for 2021 class and former Clemson football star C.J. Spiller is among those that are eligible. C.J. would be just the fourth Tiger player ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Currently, former Clemson football players James McFadden, Terry Kinard and Jeff Davis have been elected as have former Clemson coaches Frank Howard and Danny Ford. Both Howard and Ford played college football at the University of Alabama.
In order to be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame a former college player must meet the following requirements:
"First and foremost, a player must have received First-Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise their consensus All-America teams."
"A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation’s honors courts 10 years after his final year of intercollegiate football played."
"While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and fellow man. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree."
"Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years*. For example, to be eligible for the 2014 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1964 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire."
C.J. Spiller was one of the most accomplished players in Clemson football history.
C.J. Spiller left Clemson football will a lot of accolades to his name in both sports of track and football:
- 3x All-ACC Football selection 2006; 2008-2009
- 2007 All-American – Outdoor Track & Field (4 × 100 m)
- 2007 All-ACC Outdoor Track Selection (100m)
- 2008 All-ACC Indoor Track Selection (60m)
- 2008 All-American – Indoor Track & Field (60m)
- 2009 All-American – Outdoor Track & Field (4 × 100 m)
- 2009 All-ACC Outdoor Track Selection (100m)
- 2009 All-American – Football
- 2009 ACC Championship Game MVP (Only MVP in ACCCG history from the losing team)
- 2009 ACC Offensive Player of the Year
- 2009 ACC Player of the Year
After graduating, Spiller would be the ninth overall pick of the 2010 NFL draft. He spent eight years playing for five different franchises including the Bills, Saints, Seahawks, Jets, and Chiefs. He was also a 2012 Pro Bowl selection after Ray Rice led the Ravens to the Super Bowl.
In recent years, C.J. has made an impact around Clemson and joined the IPTAY Board of Directors in the fiscal 2020 calendar year.