Clemson Announces 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Class
CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson Athletics and the Block C Club have announced the 2026 Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame class, an 11-member group that reflects sustained excellence across eras, sports and competitive levels. The class includes ten athletes from seven sports and a longtime department physician with more than three decades of success. The group will be inducted in conjunction with the Sep. 12 football game against Georgia Southern.
Collectively, the class compiled more than 40 All-ACC selections, 20 All-America honors, 15 ACC championships, and three individual team and national titles, and highlighted by an Olympic gold medalist. The group also features four ACC Athlete of the Year honorees, a Bowerman Award winner, and accomplished professional careers, including Pro Bowl recognition and more than a decade in the NFL.
LAURA COTTRELL (Women’s Basketball, 1993–97)
All-ACC (First Team, 1996, 1997) and 1996 ACC Tournament MVP
Key contributor to Clemson’s first ACC Women’s Basketball Championship
One of just five players in program history to record 1,000 points and 800 rebounds
Finished career ranked among Clemson’s top five in rebounds and top 15 in scoring
ANDY D’ALESSIO (Baseball, 2004–07)
Consensus All-American (2006) and All-ACC (First Team)
Hit 59 career home runs, tied for the most in Clemson history
.309 career batting average across 239 starts, one of the most durable players in program history
DALTON FREEMAN (Football, 2009–12)
All-American (First Team, AFCA, 2012) and All-American (Second Team, AP; Walter Camp, 2012) as the anchor of Clemson’s offensive line
Rimington Award finalist in both 2011 and 2012, recognizing the nation’s top center
All-ACC (First Team, 2011, 2012) and four-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection
One of a select group of Clemson players to earn both All-America and Academic All-America honors in the same season
Team co-captain and Leadership Award winner for the 2012 squad
Played 16 NFL games with the New York Jets
MATT HENDRIX (Men’s Golf, 2000–04)
Two-time All-American and All-ACC (First Team, 2003, 2004)
Member of Clemson’s 2003 National Championship team
Ben Hogan Award finalist and U.S. Walker Cup team member (2003)
Four-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection
TEVIN HESTER (Men’s Track & Field, 2013–16)
Nine-time All-American and seven-time ACC Champion
Four-time ACC Athlete of the Year (Indoor and Outdoor)
One of Clemson’s most decorated sprinters, excelling in the 60m, 100m and 200m
ACC Freshman of the Year (2013) and consistent national finalist across multiple events
GRADY JARRETT (Football, 2011–14)
All-American (Third Team, 2014) and All-ACC (First Team, 2014) defensive leader
Key contributor to a Clemson defense that led the nation in 13 statistical categories in 2014, including total defense
Finished career with 207 tackles and 29.5 tackles for loss across 48 games
Fifth-round selection of the Atlanta Falcons, where he built a 10-year NFL career and earned two Pro Bowl selections
Recorded three sacks in Super Bowl LI, among the top single-game totals in Super Bowl history
K.J. McDANIELS (Men’s Basketball, 2010–14)
All-ACC (First Team, 2013–14) and ACC Defensive Player of the Year
Only player nationally to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks
Led Clemson to a 23-win season and NIT semifinal appearance in 2014
Finished with 1,035 career points and 178 blocked shots (Top 10 in program history)
CHRISTIAN NWOKOCHA (Men’s Soccer, 1975–78)
All-American (1978) and three-time All-ACC (First Team) selection
Led ACC in scoring twice and finished with 61 career goals
Key contributor to four ACC Championship teams and a 1978 NCAA Tournament semifinal run
BRIANNA ROLLINS (Women’s Track, 2010–13)
Three-time NCAA Champion and eight-time All-American
Eight-time ACC Champion and 11-time All-ACC selection
Winner of The Bowerman Award (2013), the sport’s highest honor
Olympic gold medalist (2016) and World Champion (2013) in the 100m hurdles
Holds Clemson records in indoor 60m hurdles and outdoor 100m hurdles
ANDREW TARBELL (Men’s Soccer, 2012–15)
All-American (Second Team, NSCAA) and All-South Region (First Team) goalkeeper
All-ACC (First Team, 2015; Third Team, 2014) and ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2015)
Led Clemson to the 2015 College Cup Championship match, recording nine shutouts
Ranked among national leaders in minutes played, saves and save percentage
Coaches / Administrators
DR. LARRY BOWMAN (Team Orthopedist, 1988–2022)
Served as team orthopedist for all Clemson sports for 34 years
Instrumental in supporting teams that won two national championships, 10 ACC titles and six College Football Playoff appearances
Founder of Blue Ridge Orthopedics and leader in sports medicine at the regional and national levels
Served on multiple NCAA and national medical committees, advancing athlete health and safety.
