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Clemson announces Hall of Fame Class

Former Clemson football players Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins are a part of the Class of 2024 of Clemson Hall of Fame.
Credit: WLTX

Clemson Athletics and IPTAY’s Block C Club announced nine members to be inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The class is comprised of: Tajh Boyd (Football), Louise Greenwood (Basketball), Michael Johnson (Baseball), Jessica Leidecker (Rowing), Mark Lisi (Men’s Soccer), Julie Rodriguez (Volleyball), Victor Smalls (Track & Field), Sammy Watkins (Football), and Stephanie Weikert (Track & Field).

The class will be inducted on the weekend of Nov. 2, 2024 in conjunction with Clemson’s football game against Louisville.

Seven members of the class earned All-America honors in their respective careers, four helped Clemson earn ACC team championships, and four were drafted to play professionally. 

TAJH BOYD, Football (2010-13) 

  • First-team All-American in 2012 according to American Football Coaches Association. 
  • Finalist for the Manning Award, O’Brien Award and Unitas Award as a senior in 2013. 
  • Semifinalist for the Maxwell Trophy 
  • Honorable mention All-American in 2013. 
  • Semifinalist for the O’Brien Award and Manning Award as a sophomore in 2011. 
  • ACC Player of the Year in 2012 
  • First-team All-ACC as a sophomore in 2011 
  • Quarterbacked Clemson to 32 wins in his three years as a starter, at the time tied for the most wins in Clemson history. 
  • Quarterbacked Clemson to its first ACC Championship in 20 years in 2011. 
  • Quarterbacked Clemson to three top 25 seasons, including final #8 AP ranking in 2013 as a senior. 
  • Most Valuable Player of the Orange Bowl at the end of the 2013 season, had record setting game for the bowl in terms of passing yards and total offense. 
  • Quarterbacked Clemson to #11 final AP ranking in 2012. 
  • Finished his career with a then-ACC record 107 touchdown passes and 133 total touchdowns. 
  • Drafted in the sixth round by the New York Jets. 

LOUISE GREENWOOD, Basketball (1985-89) 

  • Second-Team All-ACC in 1989 
  • 1989 American Women’s Sports Federation All-American in 1989 (Honorable Mention) 
  • Fourth on the Clemson career list for most rebounds with 859 
  • 14th on the all-time Clemson career scoring list with 1,268 points 
  • Tied for 10th on the school’s all-time list for career field goals made (532) 
  • Finished career sixth on the school’s career list for most blocked shots with 81 
  • Fifth on the school’s list for best free throw percentage (.765) 
  • 10th on the school’s list for best career rebounding average (7.7) 
  • Named Most Valuable Player of the 1987 Georgia Southern Invitational 
  • Finished career tied with Mary Ann Cubelic for Clemson’s best career free throw percentage in the ACC Tournament (.857) 
  • Led Clemson in rebounding in 1986-87 and 1987-88. 

MICHAEL JOHNSON, Baseball (2000-03)

  • Four-year starter at first base, leading the Tigers to College World Series appearances in 2000 and 2002, and winning 185 games in his four seasons. 
  • Two-Time First-Team All-ACC (2002, 2003)
  • In his four-year career, Johnson was a career .344 hitter with 58 homers, 52 doubles, 213 RBIs, 169 walks, 25 stolen bases, and a .465 on-base percentage in 235 games.
  • Hit 10 homers against rival South Carolina in 16 career games, twice earning the Bob Bradley Award for being the top Tiger in the series. 
  • Had a career .368 batting average in NCAA Tournament play. Also has hit 9 homers, 8 doubles, and 26 RBIs along with a .829 slugging percentage and .456 on-base percentage in 23 NCAA Tournament games. 
  • Had a career .500 batting average (17-for-34) with 4 homers, 11 RBIs, a 1.000 slugging percentage, and a .581 on-base percentage in 10 ACC Tournament games. 
  • Co-captain, First-Team All-ACC and First Team All-Atlantic Region selection, received the Michel (Team MVP) Award in 2003.
  • Second-Team All-American by ABCA, Third Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, First Team All-ACC selection in 2002.
  • Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 2nd round of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft

JESSICA LEIDECKER, Rowing (2006-09) 

  • Two-time All-American, just the third Clemson women’s rower so honored. 
  • Second-team All-American as a junior in 2008 and first-team as a senior in 2009 
  • Two-time first-team All-ACC, two-time first-team All-Region 
  • As a junior, member of Varsity 8 that advanced to the NCAA Championships for the first time. 
  • As a senior helped Clemson to its first ACC team title and ACC Crew of the Year (Varsity 8). 
  • Helped Clemson finish 12th in the nation at the NCAA Rowing Championships in 2009 
  • Twice competed for US Rowing at U23 World Championships. Member of fourth-place Women’s 4- in 2008 and Silver Medal Women’s 8+ in 2009. 

MARK LISI, Soccer (1997-2000) 

  • Named first-team All-American by the NSCAA, Soccer America, and Soccer Times in 2000 and a second-team All-American by Soccer News in 1998.
  • Member of the All-ACC First Team in 1998, 1999, and 2000 
  • Member of ACC Championship (regular season and tournament) team in 1998
  • Went to four NCAA Tournaments, including the Roud of 16 in 2000 and the NCAA Quarterfinal in 1997 and 1998. 
  • Finished his career with 33 goals, 37 assists and 103 points 
  • Member of the ACC 50-Year Anniversary Team 
  • In the 2000 season, he led Clemson with 15 goals and eight assists for 38 points 
  • All-ACC Tournament in 1998 
  • Led the NCAA with 17 assists in 1998.
  • 2000 team MVP 
  • Selected third overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United, playing professionally until 2006.

JULIE RODRIGUEZ, Volleyball (1993-96) 

  • Three-time All-ACC Selection (1994-96), including First-team selections in 1995 and 1996
  • Two-time AVCA First-Team All-Region Selection (1995, 1996)
  • Played NCAA Tournament teams in 1993 and 1994. The 1993 team earned Clemson’s first-ever NCAA Volleyball Tournament bid and the 1994 team earned the program’s first win in NCAA Tournament play. 
  • ACC Rookie-of-the-Year (1993) 
  • Only player in Clemson volleyball history with 1,500 or more kills and 1,500 or more digs. 
  • Tied for the Clemson career lead with 135 career starts, second in Clemson volleyball history with 1,523 career digs and fifth with 1,720 kills. 
  • Top 10 in Clemson history for career attempts (3rd), kills per set (7th) and digs per set (4th) 
  • ACC 50-Year Anniversary Team (2002) 

VICTOR SMALLS, Track & Field (1983-86) 

  • Still holds Clemson’s high jump record at 7-6 ½, set in 1986. 
  • ACC high jump champion in 1985 and 1986. 
  • Three-time All-American in the high jump; finished fourth outdoors in 1985 with 7-5 leap, then finished sixth in 1986 with 7-1 figure. Had a sixth-place indoors in 1985, the first indoor field event All-American in Clemson history. 

SAMMY WATKINS, Football (2011-13) 

  • Three-time first-team All-American, one of just five in Clemson history. 
  • Unanimous first-team Freshman All-American in 2011. 
  • First-team All-ACC in 2011 and 2013. 
  • Finalist for the Biletnikoff Award in 2013. 
  • Had 101 receptions in his final year for 1,464 yards and 12 touchdowns, still records for receptions and yards in a season. 
  • In the final game of his career vs. Ohio State in the 2013 season Orange Bowl, had 16 catches for 227 yards, both single-game Clemson records and Orange Bowl records. 
  • National Freshman of the Year by Columbus, Ohio TD Club, and the Sporting News. 
  • ACC Rookie of the Year in 2011. 
  • Finished his career with 240 receptions for 3,391 yards and 27 touchdowns.
  • Second in Clemson history in total receptions, still first in reception yards and tied for first in career reception touchdowns. 
  • Fourth pick of the 2014 NFL Draft by Buffalo Bills, which was tied for the highest NFL draft pick in school history at the time; Now tied for second.

STEPHANIE WEIKERT, Track & Field (1980-83) 

  • No. 2 outdoor all-time performance list for 5000m—16.06.13 (1983) 
  • 1982 outdoor All-American 3000m—9.33.93 (5th place) 
  • 1981 All-District/region performer 15th place with a time of 17:59 
  • 1982 All-District/region performer 7th place with a time of 17:05 
  • 1982 All-American 16th place with a time of 17:26 
  • All-ACC in 1982 and 1983 
  • ACC 50th anniversary team selection in 2002 

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