List of alumni of Clemson University

Clemson University has tens of thousands of alumni; this article lists some of the better-known ones.

Alumni in politics

• David Beasley, South Carolina governor (1995–1999)
• James F. Byrnes, former U. S. Secretary of State (1945-1947), former U. S. Senator (1931-1941), former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1941-1942)
• Jeff Duncan, US House of Representatives, SC 3rd Congressional District
• David Ekwee Ethuro, Assistant Minister and Member of Parliament for Turkana Central-KENYA, 1998 to date
• Harvey Gantt, former mayor of Charlotte, NC and first African-American graduate of Clemson University
• Nikki Haley, former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives and Governor of South Carolina
• Mark Hammond, South Carolina Secretary of State
• Kristie A. Kenney, United States Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand, 2010 to date.
• Earle Morris, Jr., former Lt. Governor, Comptroller General of South Carolina
• Bob Peeler, South Carolina lieutenant governor (1995–2003)
• Strom Thurmond, former Governor of South Carolina, former U.S. Senator
• David Wilkins, former Speaker of South Carolina House, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada, current Chairman of the Clemson University Board of Trustees

Alumni in business

• Robert H. Brooks, founder and chairman of Naturally Fresh Dressings, Sauces and Dips and president of Atlanta-based Hooters of America, Inc, The Brooks Center for the Performing Arts is named for his son Mark, who died in the same plane crash as NASCAR driver Alan Kulwicki.
• Charlene Corley, former defense contractor who was convicted in 2007 on two counts of conspiracy
• C. D. Davies, CEO of LendingTree, LLC
• Richard C. Davis, founder of Trademark Properties, appeared in the first season of A&E's Flip This House
• Mack Fleming, owner/operator of only commercial tea plantation in the United States
• Gary Parsons, Chairman of the Board and former President and CEO of XM Satellite Radio
• George H. Ross, executive vice president and senior counsel of the Trump Organization. He is perhaps best known as one of Donald Trump's two advisors on the NBC reality television program The Apprentice

Athletic alumni

Baseball

• Jeff Baker, Chicago Cubs third baseman and outfielder
• Tyler Colvin, Chicago Cubs outfielder
• Kris Benson, starting pitcher
• Khalil Greene, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
• Steven Jackson, Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher
• Jimmy Key, former Major League Baseball pitcher with Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles
• Brian Kowitz, former Major League Baseball outfielder with Atlanta Braves
• Matthew LeCroy, Minnesota Twins infielder
• Danny Sheaffer, former Major League Baseball player
• Bill Spiers, former Major League Baseball infielder with the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, and Houston Astros

Basketball

• Trevor Booker, current NBA Forward for the Washington Wizards
• Greg Buckner, current NBA guard for the Dallas Mavericks
• Elden Campbell, former NBA forward/center
• Dale Davis, Detroit Pistons forward/center, All- star (2000)
• Horace Grant, former NBA forward All-Star (1994)
• Randolph Mahaffey former NBA guard, All-star (1968)
• Larry Nance, former NBA forward, 3-time NBA All-star (1985, 89, 93), first winner of NBA "slam dunk" competition (1984), NBA All-defense team 1989 (1st-team)
• Wayne "Tree" Rollins, former NBA player and executive, NBA All-defense team 1984 (first-team)
• Chris Whitney, former NBA guard
• Sharone Wright, former NBA forward/center

Football

• Gaines Adams, 2007 NFL prospect defensive end, drafted Round 1 (pick #4) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Keith Adams, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker, 2-time NCAA first-team All-American (1999-2000)
• Terry Allen, former NFL running back, #20 All-time leading rusher in NFL history
• Obed Ariri, former NFL placekicker, NCAA first-team All-American (1980)
• Jeff Bostic, former Washington Redskins center, only player in Clemson history to be a 3-time Super Bowl winner
• Brentson Buckner, NFL defensive tackle
• Jerry Butler, former Buffalo Bills wide receiver
• Dwight Clark, former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
• Airese Currie, Chicago Bears wide receiver
• Woodrow Dantzler, former NFL running back for the Dallas Cowboys and the Atlanta Falcons.
• James Davis, Current NFL running back with the Washington Redskins
• Jeff Davis, former NFL Linebacker, NCAA first-team All-American (1981)
• Brian Dawkins, Denver Broncos defensive back, 5-time pro bowler (1999, 2001-02)
• Antuan Edwards, New England Patriots cornerback/safety
• Terrence Flagler, former NFL running back, first team All-American (1986)
• Kenny Flowers, former NFL running back
• Jacoby Ford, Current NFL wide receiver with the Oakland Raiders
• Steve Fuller, former NFL quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears
• Rod Gardner, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
• Chris Gardocki, NFL punter
• Larry Hefner, former Green Bay Packers linebacker
• Tye Hill, Tennessee Titans Cornerback
• Donald Igwebuike, former NFL placekicker
• Steven Jackson, Carolina Panthers fullback
• Bobby Johnson, former Vanderbilt University head football coach
• Terry Kinard, former NFL defensive back, 1988 pro bowler, 2-time NCAA first-team All-American
• Levon Kirkland, former NFL linebacker, 2-time pro bowler (1996-97), 1991 NCAA first-team All-American
• John Leake, former NFL linebacker
• Kevin Mack, former Cleveland Browns running back, 2-time pro bowler (1985,87)
• Ed McDaniel, former NFL linebacker, pro bowler (1998), 1991 NCAA first-team All-American
• Banks McFadden, first same season two sport All-American in 1939 (Football, Basketball), 1939 Nations Most Versatile Athlete, 1940 1st Round Draft Choice of the NFL Brooklyn Dodgers, 1940 NFL yards per carry leader, Clemson Ring-of-Honor, Voted Clemson's All-Time Greatest Athlete.
• Chester McGlockton, former NFL defensive lineman, 4-time pro bowler (1994-97)
• Michael Dean Perry, former NFL defensive lineman, 6-time pro bowler (89-91, 93-94, 96), AFC Defensive Player of the Year (1989), NCAA first-team All-American (1987)
• William "Refrigerator" Perry, former NFL defensive lineman 3-time NCAA All-American (1982-1984)
• Trevor Pryce, NFL defensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens
• Wayne Simmons, NFL Linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers Super Bowl Champs XXXI
• Jim Speros, played linebacker at Clemson. Super Bowl winning coach. Youngest assistant coach in NFL history.
• CJ Spiller, current Buffalo Bills runningback, 2009 first-team All-American, #9 selection in the 2010 NFL Draft
• Chansi Stuckey, NFL wider receiver for the Cleveland Browns
• David Treadwell, former NFL placekicker, 1987 first-team All-American
• Perry Tuttle, former NFL wider receiver, NCAA first-team All-American (1981)
• Charlie Waters, former Dallas Cowboys cornerback
• Joel Wells, former NFL halfback
• Charlie Whitehurst, quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks
• Donnell Woolford, former NFL defensive back, pro bowler 1993, 2-time NCAA first-team All-American (1987-88)

Golf

• Tom Biershenk, Nationwide Tour
• Jonathan Byrd, PGA Tour golfer, winner of 2002 Buick Challenge, 2004 B.C. Open, 2007 John Deere Classic, 2010 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and 2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
• Brent Delahoussaye, PGA Tour Golfer
• John Engler, PGA Tour golfer
• Lucas Glover, PGA Tour golfer, 2009 US Open Champion, 2005 Funai Classic Champion at the Walt Disney World Resort
• Matt Hendrix, PGA Tour golfer
• Kevin Johnson, PGA Tour golfer
• Ben Martin, PGA Tour golfer, US Amateur runner-up in 2009
• Parker Moore, former PGA Tour golfer, US Amateur runner-up in 1976
• Chris Patton, 1989 United States Amateur Champion
• Clarence Rose, former PGA Tour golfer, winner of 1996 Sprint International
• D. J. Trahan, PGA Tour golfer, winner of 2006 Southern Farm Bureau Classic and 2008 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
• Charles Warren, PGA Tour golfer, winner of 1997 NCAA Championship
• Kyle Stanley PGA Tour Golfer

Other

• Jay Berger, professional tennis player ranked as high as # 7 in the world
• Shawn Crawford, 2004 Olympic gold and silver medalist in track and field; 2008 Olympic silver medalist in track and field
• Greg Eckhardt, professional soccer player
• Gigi Fernández, former women's tennis player, won 17 Grand Slam doubles titles and two Olympic Gold Medals and was ranked the World No. 1 woman doubles player
• Michael Green, Jamaican-born sprinter who made the men's 100 m final at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
• Sammie Henson, 1993 and 1994 NCAA wrestling champion, 2000 Olympic silver medalist and 1998 World champion in freestyle wrestling
• Stuart Holden, Bolton Wanderers and US National Team soccer player, midfielder
• Dutch Jones, 2005 Collegiate All-American in Rugby (Clemson Rugby's first).
• Mitzi Kremer, 1998 Olympic bronze medalist in swimming
• Noel Loban, 1980 NCAA champion and 1984 Olympic bronze medalist in wrestling
• Oguchi Onyewu, A.C. Milan and US National Team soccer player, defender
• Dane Richards, N.Y. Red Bulls MLS Player

Other notable alumni

• Rudolf Anderson Jr., a major in the United States Air Force, who was the only combat casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis when his U-2 spy plane was shot down.
• Lee Brice, country music singer
• Aaron Buerge, "The Bachelor", Season 2
• James Dickey, a renowned writer and poet with American South influences. (Attended for one year, but did not graduate from Clemson.)
• Aquilla J. Dyess, United States Marine Corps, Medal of Honor recipient, killed in action in World War II, only American to receive both the Carnegie Medal for civilian heroism and the Medal of Honor
• Jonathan Hickman, comic book writer/artist
• Rob Huebel, actor/comedian, Human Giant
• Fiona Hutchison, One Life to Live actress
• Scott Lazar, first person to free-climb Venezuela's Angel Falls
• Connie LeGrand, former co-host of Speed Channel's Speed News (now The Speed Report)
• Chris Luca, Winner of Amazing Race 2
• Rich Merritt, Author of the bestselling 2005 memoir Secrets of a Gay Marine Porn Star and 2008 novel Code of Conduct.
• Nancy O'Dell, former Miss South Carolina and host of Access Hollywood
• Jane Robelot, news anchor
• James Michael Tyler, Gunther on Friends
• Shawn Weatherly, Miss Universe, 1980-81