Thomas Austin Class: Graduate Student Hometown: Camden, SC High School: Camden Height / Weight: 6-4 / 310 Position: OG Experience: 3VL Major: Political Science

Austin Fact: Rated as the top center in the nation for the 2010 NFL draft by Mel Kiper, but he will start at guard as a senior.
Years Lettered: 2006,07,08
Years Starter: 2007,08
Depth Chart Position: First-team left offensive guard

Overview: An All-America and Outland Trophy candidate when he will be the senior leader of the offensive line...rated as the top senior center in the nation for the 2010 NFL draft by Mel Kiper...second-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele...consensus preseason All-ACC selection...#4 draft-eligible offensive guard in the nation by Phil Steele...#4 offensive guard in the nation by Lindy's...Second-Team All-ACC center in 2008; he started seven games at center and six at offensive guard in 2008...first-team All-ACC by Rivals.com and Phil Steele...first-team Academic All-ACC selection; he graduated in August of 2009...three-time ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week in 2008, tied for the most selections among ACC linemen; he became the first Tiger offensive lineman to win the award three times in one season since Stacy Long won it three times in 1989, a year Long was a first-team All-American...has won five career ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week awards, tied for third-most in Clemson history and tied for most among offensive linemen; the record is seven by linebacker Keith Adams (1998-00) and the offensive lineman record is five by Long and Austin...has played 34 career games with 25 career starts...played 795 snaps in 2008, more than any other offensive player, and is a veteran of 1,692 career snaps...has 206 career knockdowns, more than any other active Tiger...won the team's strength training Dedication Award for 2008...only married player on the team; he is married to the former Margaret Hall...won the Solid Rock Award among 2008 offensive linemen...named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll for the 2008-09 academic year...his 440-pound bench press is fourth-best on the team...did 31 reps of 225 pounds, third-best on the team...went on a mission trip to Mexico during 2008 spring break...fine public speaker who spoke at Clemson's statewide IPTAY meeting in February of 2009.

2008: Clemson's top offensive lineman...named ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week for his performances against N.C. State, Boston College, and Virginia...named Clemson's top offensive player by the coaches against Duke; he was also a member of an offensive line that received the same award for the South Carolina game...led the team in knockdown blocks (98), the second-straight year he did that...only Tiger offensive lineman to start all 13 games; he and Aaron Kelly were the only Tigers on offense to start every game...had an average film grade of 82 percent, highest among all Tiger offensive linemen...had the highest film grade among offensive linemen in eight games and led the team in knockdown blocks in nine games...had double-digits in knockdown blocks four times, including each of the last three regular-season games...had 35 knockdowns in the last three regular-season games when Clemson had a 3-0 record...led the offensive line against N.C. State with 10.5 knockdown blocks and an 82-percent grade in 60 snaps; he was named ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week...had five knockdowns and an 82-percent grade at Boston College to earn ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week honors...had 13 knockdowns against Duke, his season-high, and was named ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week...had 11 knockdowns at Virginia and 11 against South Carolina...had an 86-percent grade in 60 snaps against the Gamecocks, a special win for the native of Camden, SC...led or tied for the lead in knockdown blocks in each of the last six games of the regular season.

2007: Started 12 games, including four at right offensive guard and eight at center...started each of the last 11 games, including each of the last seven at center...led the team in knockdown blocks (90), including a season-high 13 at South Carolina...honorable mention sophomore All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com...ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week against South Carolina when he had team-best 87-percent grade...third on the team in offensive snaps (780); he missed the Louisiana-Monroe game with an injury; he suffered the injury against #19 Florida State when he played just 26 snaps...two-time ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week pick; he also won the award against Central Michigan...led the team in snaps in each of the last eight games...had 12 knockdown blocks in 94 snaps against #14 Virginia Tech...led the team in knockdown blocks five times, all of which occurred in the last seven games of the regular season...had at least 12 knockdown blocks in three straight games (Virginia Tech, Central Michigan, Maryland)...had his best grade (87) at South Carolina...graded in the 80s in each of the last seven games and 10 of his 12 games...played well at N.C. State with an 82-percent grade and 8.5 knockdown blocks...had 12.5 knockdown blocks and an 82-percent grade in 91 snaps at Maryland...one of the big reasons Clemson led the ACC in scoring offense and was second in total offense, rushing offense, and passing offense...Clemson had a 3-1 record in games he started at guard and 5-3 record when he started at center...had his second-best grade of the year against #18 Boston College; he had an 86-percent grade and 4.5 knockdown blocks in 72 snaps.

2006: Had 22 knockdown blocks and three intimidation blocks in 117 snaps...had his best game against Louisiana Tech when he graded 92 percent in 12 snaps and had 5.5 knockdown blocks, including two intimidation blocks...saw his most action against Temple when he played 33 snaps; he had a career-high 6.5 knockdown blocks...played 27 snaps against North Carolina and had 2.5 knockdown blocks...saw action in six of the last seven games on offense, including 10 snaps in the Music City Bowl against Kentucky...played 22 snaps in his first career game against Florida Atlantic and had 3.5 knockdown blocks.

2005: Red-shirted...scout team player-of-the-year on offense by the coaching staff...named to the academic honor roll for the fall semester.

Before Clemson: Graded over 90 percent as a senior at Camden High School...all-state by The State, High School Sports Report, and SCVarsity.com as a senior...Upstate Lineman-of-the-Year as a senior...Shrine Bowl starter at offensive tackle...one of the top-10 Shrine Bowl players by Rivals.com...all-county, all-region, and all-area as a junior and senior...named to the SuperPrep Mid-Atlantic team as the #11 prospect in South Carolina...all-region and all-area as a senior...#97 prospect on the East Coast by SuperPrep...#20 offensive guard in the nation and #8 prospect in South Carolina by Rivals.com...#9 prospect on Spartanburg Herald-Journal's Fab-50 list...#8 prospect in South Carolina by TigerIllustrated.com and #3 prospect in South Carolina by TigerNet.com...#7 prospect in South Carolina by CUTigers.com...#1 offensive lineman in South Carolina by The State...graded over 85 percent as a junior...played every position on the offensive line in high school...three-year letterman in wrestling who won the AAA state title as a junior...had a 66-4 career wrestling record...state finalist and North/South All-Star in wrestling as a senior...four-year letterman in football; he played on the AAA state title team as a freshman offensive tackle...honor student and recipient of the Governor's Award for outstanding character...president of his high school FCA and soloist in the church choir...coached by Jimmy Neal...chose Clemson over Maryland, Penn State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest...born Nov. 14, 1986...graduated in August, 2009 with a degree in political science.