Clemson Football: 35 Greatest Tigers of the Dabo Swinney Era

2. C.J. Spiller

C.J. Spiller is the cog that started it all.

Spiller was a 5-star freshman who chose to come to Clemson over his in-state school Florida. Though there was always some push for him to return home, Spiller remained committed to the program and finished his career with quite the set of accomplishments.

Spiller finished his career with 3,547 yards (good enough for fourth all-time in school history) and he absolutely carried the Tigers for the better part of his time in the program.

Spiller’s number was retired following his final season with the Tiger and he still remains one of the most historically-great running backs, not only in Clemson history, but in College Football history. He is a guaranteed future member of the Clemson Ring of Honor, as well as the College Football Hall of Fame, and there’s no doubt that Spiller left a major mark that will be hard to be surpassed.