By Clemson Athletics
Published: Apr. 11, 2024 at 12:01 PM EDT
CLEMSON, S.C. - 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.
Biographical information on each selection is available below:
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 sophom*ore in 2011.
- ACC Player of the Year in 2012
- First-team All-ACC as a sophom*ore 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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