If you have paid any attention to this year’s NFL playoffs, you’ve probably witnessed a few former Tigers take the field in a quest for a Super Bowl.
Clemson had a player on the roster of every playoff team, many of which had former Tigers playing in impactful roles.
Heading into conference championship week with only four remaining teams, Clemson is one of six colleges in the country to have at least one player on every team. In total, the Tigers have seven players on teams that are in conference championship games — which is the third-most out of any college — although two of them are on injured reserve.
While the Jacksonville Jaguars were the most talked about team in regards to Clemson because of Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne, the Tigers still have players on all of the teams that Tiger fans can root for this Sunday.
Multiple former Tigers will be under the spotlight, particularly in the AFC championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bengals have three former Clemson players including defensive tackle D.J. Reader, guard/tackle Jackson Carman and wide receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins had three receptions for 28 yards against the Buffalo Bills in their divisional matchup, while Reader tallied two total tackles. Carman made his first career start at left tackle and first career playoff start against the Bills, playing on every offensive snap.
The NFC championship game will also pose some excitement for Clemson fans. Safety K’Von Wallace has had a significant impact on special teams for the Philadelphia Eagles. The San Francisco 49ers also have their own special teams star in Ray-Ray McCloud III, who returned a kickoff for 53 yards in the divisional matchup.
Clemson’s representation in the NFL playoffs demonstrates not only the strength of its program on the national level but also its pump line from the ACC.
As the NFL regular season concluded, the ACC represented approximately 12.4% of the players in the playoffs. Going into the conference games, the ACC has less of a presence, with 11.7% of players.
As for all former ACC players set to square off this Sunday, Clemson represents 25% of them, with NC State being a close second at 21.4%.
One way or another, though, a Tiger will be hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy in nearly two weeks.
