Nine Clemson football players graduated in commencement ceremonies in Littlejohn Coliseum on Thursday. Among the football graduates were seven players who are in their last season of eligibility and two (Jaron Brown, Dalton Freeman) who have a year of eligibility remaining in 2012. A total of 20 current and former Clemson student-athletes received their degrees on Thursday.
Among the nine football players who graduated was Dawson Zimmerman, who was a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award and the Wuerffel Trophy, given to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. Zimmerman, the Tigers’ starting punter the past three seasons, is a three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll. The senior from Lawrenceville, GA entered the fall semester with a 3.92 career GPA in English.
Freeman, a junior center from Pelion, SC, is also a three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll and received his degree in communication studies. Joining Brown, Freeman, and Zimmerman among football graduates were starters Andre Branch, Rennie Moore, and Phillip Price along with Kantrell Brown, Chad Diehl, and Mansa Joseph.
Also graduating on Thursday were basketball players Bryan Narcisse and Tanner Smith. At the time of their graduation, they were preparing to play UTEP in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii. They became the first Clemson men’s roundballers to play in a game as graduates since Bruce Martin (1994-95).
2011 December Graduates
Student-Athlete Sport Major
Jay Cox Baseball Sociology
Chris Epps Baseball Community Recreation, Sport, & Camp Management
Bryan Narcisse Men’s Basketball Communication Studies
Tanner Smith Men’s Basketball Marketing
Andre Branch Football Sociology
Jaron Brown Football Management
Kantrell Brown Football Travel & Tourism
Chad Diehl Football Management
Dalton Freeman Football Communication Studies
Mansa Joseph Football Special Education
Rennie Moore Football Sociology
Phillip Price Football Community Recreation, Sport, & Camp Management
Dawson Zimmerman Football English
McCuen Elmore Men’s Golf Economics
Nicole Bowen Rowing Graphic Communications
Kyle Shoemaker Men’s Swimming & Diving Mathematical Sciences
Derek DiFazio Men’s Tennis Management
Kevin Galloway Men’s Tennis Financial Management
Lilla Fordos Women’s Track & Field Political Science
Briana Johnson Women’s Track & Field Communication Studies
