This week, Phil Steele Magazine published their preseason All-American teams, and Clemson is well represented.
Five Tiger stars have been named Phil Steele Preseason All-Americans, including redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and junior defensive end Myles Murphy, both of whom won first-team All-Americans in the Steele’s All-American defensive team.
Clemson junior linebacker Trenton Simpson was named second-team All-American, while senior redshirt offensive tackle Jordan McFadden earned third-team All-American honors in All-American Offensive. by Steele.
Clemson super senior kicker BT Potter, meanwhile, was named a fourth-team All-American on Steele’s Special Teams All-American.
A former Top 5 National rookie who made an instant impact, earning Freshman All-America honors from multiple outlets in 2020 and earning a fourth All-American selection from Phil Steele in 2021, Murphy enters 2022 credited with 94 tackles ( 26.0 for loss), 11.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and three pass breakups in 963 snaps in 25 games (16 starts).
Simpson enters 2022 credited with 110 tackles (18.5 for loss), 10.0 sacks, three breakups and a forced fumble in 837 snaps in 25 games (15 starts), while Bresee enters this season credited with 48 tackles (9.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and one safety in 586 defensive snaps in 16 games (14 starts). Before being limited to four games last season due to a torn ACL, Bresee became the second ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in Clemson history in 2020, joining Dexter Lawrence (2016) .
McFadden is entering his third year as a starter in 2022 having had 1,971 career snaps in 42 career games (25 starts). He was a 2021 All-ACC second-team selection and also earned second-team all-conference honors from the AP, PFF and Phil Steele. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native had a team-high 872 offensive snaps in 13 games (all starts) last season, finishing the year as one of only four offensive or defensive players at Clemson to start each game. His 872 snaps were the most by a Clemson offensive tackle since 2016 (Mitch Hyatt, 994).
Potter enters 2022 with a career rating of 53 of 71 in field goals and a career rating of 185 of 186 in PAT in 55 career games (40 starts) and also enters 2022 with an average of 64.26 yards on 368 career kickoffs with 280 touchdowns. He became Clemson’s school record holder in career field goals over 40 and over 50 yards in 2021 and enters 2022 fourth in Clemson history in career points by a kicker (344), third in career PAT (185), fourth in career points (344) and seventh in goals scored (53). The Rock Hill, SC native became the first player in Clemson history to score 100 points in three different seasons and opened his career by converting his first 122 consecutive PATs, a school record.
Clemson opens the 2022 season against Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 5 (8 p.m., ESPN).
–Clemson Athletic Communications contributed to this story
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