The legendary Clemson running back C.J. Spiller is once again listed as a part of the Clemson football program, this time as an unpaid graduate assistant.
C.J Spiller is a household name among Clemson fans. Many would argue that it was Spiller’s decision to commit to Clemson that started the transformation of Clemson’s football program into the dominating team that we know today. Spiller came out of high school as one of the top recruits in the nation, and at the time, Clemson was not nearly the powerhouse that it is today. Spiller became the first of many top 5-star recruits to commit to Clemson over the years.
During his time playing running back for the Tigers from 2006 to 2009, he accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments and accolades. Over his four years at Clemson, he gained 7,588 all-purpose yards and scored 51 touchdowns. His most impressive season came in 2009, his senior season. That year, he was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year, MVP of the ACC Football Championship and ACC Football Player of the Year. As a result of such an impressive season, Spiller finished sixth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Spiller did not find as much success in the NFL as he did in college. He was highly sought after coming out of college and was drafted 9th overall by the Buffalo Bills. Spiller went on to play for the Bills for five seasons. After he left the Bills, Spiller bounced around between a few teams and never was able to really play at the same level as he once could.
After leaving the NFL, Spiller moved back to the Upstate to be close to his alma mater. Spiller has stayed very involved in Clemson football over the years and has a very close relationship with Head Coach Dabo Swinney. Last summer in 2019, Spiller joined the IPTAY Board of Directors, where he has been elected to serve a two year term. In addition, Spiller is also very available to current football players, should they ever need anything or want any advice. He has become somewhat of a mentor to running back Travis Etienne.
Knowing how much C.J. Spiller loves Clemson University and its football program, it is not surprising that he wants to get even more involved. Spiller is now pursuing a master’s degree in athletic leadership at Clemson. This allows him to join Clemson’s coaching staff as an unpaid graduate assistant. Spiller has expressed interest in coaching, so this could very well be the start to a long coaching career for him. Having him as a coach at Clemson will only make the Tigers better, as he has a lot of experience and knowledge to share with these guys.
