Spiller Officially Inducted into Clemson's Ring of Honor

CLEMSON — Prior to Saturday’s game between No. 10 Clemson and Virginia, former Clemson star and current running backs coach, C.J. Spiller was inducted into Clemson’s Ring of Honor at Memorial Stadium.

“C.J., I think, was born to come to Clemson,” Swinney said.

Spiller picked Clemson over Florida back in 2006, starting a love affair between him and the Clemson fan base that still exist to this day.

During his four-year career at Clemson (2006-’09) Spiller broke countless records as a player, and still holds ACC single-season and career records for all-purpose yards, posting 2,680 in 2009 and finishing his career with 7,588, which was second-most in FBS history at the time of his graduation.

In 2009, his senior season, Spiller finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting after winning ACC Player of the Year honors and being selected as a unanimous first-team All-American. He became the first college football player in the history of the Walter Camp All-America team to be first or second-team All-American at two positions in the same year.

He recorded 21 career touchdowns covering at least 50 yards and had an ACC-record eight kick returns for touchdowns in his career, which at one point was an NCAA record.

To put it mildly, Spiller was special.

“He was my first five-star here. He was my first first-rounder. He was my first Pro Bowler. He was my first College Football Hall of Famer and now the first Ring of Honor guy,” Swinney said. “I am really excited for him.”

Since Spiller, Clemson has enticed great players like Tajh Boyd, DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Mike Williams, DeShaun Watson, Christian Wilkins, Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne and Tee Higgins to come and play.

Spiller took Clemson to its first ACC Championship Game in 2009 and though the Tigers did not win it, he was still voted the game’s MVP. Two years later, Clemson won its first ACC Championship in 20 years and five years after that it won its first National Championship.