A former defensive star for the Clemson Tigers had an incredible rookie season.
One of the greatest freshman seasons in college football history was experienced by a Clemson Tigers defender more than 40 years ago.
The Clemson Tigers have a reputation for playing outstanding defense ever since Dabo Swinney became their head coach.
There are several defensive players in the NFL who learned with him in college before becoming successful professionals. Dexter Lawrence, a defensive tackle with the New York Giants, is regarded as the sport’s top defender and one of the best players at any position.
About 35 years prior to him taking over the Tigers’ trenches, William Perry was another defensive tackle who was causing chaos and destroying opponents’ offensive game plans.
His remarkable career began with Clemson in 1981, when he led one of the most memorable freshman campaigns in college football history.
Recently, Bill Connelly of ESPN compiled a list of the best true freshman football seasons. Perry finished at number 44 in the rankings because of his stellar first collegiate season.
Clemson’s 1981 national championship team, which included the man who would later be known as “Refrigerator” Perry, dominated a crucial matchup in the Tigers’ season-ending game.
“The space-eater up front helped Danny Ford’s Tigers go from giving up 20.2 points per game in 1980 to 8.8 in 1981. He neutralized Dave Rimington of Nebraska, the namesake of the award given to college football’s best center, in a 22-15 Orange Bowl victory that secured the school’s first national championship,” the college football expert wrote.
Performing at that level on the defensive end of the court requires a whole team effort, but adding Perry to the mix elevated a solid squad into an exceptional one.
The interior power was voted the ACC Player of the Year and a unanimous member of the All-America Team in 1983, thus that was just the beginning of an incredible collegiate career.
Because of his outstanding play with the Tigers, the Chicago Bears selected him in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft at No. 22 overall. He helped the Bears win a championship as a rookie after winning one with Clemson in 1981.
Even today, the highlight of Super Bowl XX is still seen: the 335-pound big guy diving into the end zone as part of a 46-10 thumping of the New England Patriots.
Prior to concluding his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Perry spent the first eight and a half of his ten years in the NFL with Chicago.
