DeAndre McDaniel Class: Junior Hometown: Tallahassee, FL High School: Amos P. Godby Height / Weight: 6-1 / 210 Position: S Experience: 2VL Major: Sociology

McDaniel Fact: Had a 28-yard fumble return for a score against Nebraska, a Tiger first in a bowl game.
Years Lettered: 2007,08
Years Starter: 2008
Depth Chart Position: First-team strong safety

Overview: One of the most valuable players on the defense; he will move from linebacker to strong safety in 2009...#20 strong safety in the nation by Phil Steele...has a 37-inch vertical jump, tied for seventh-best on the team...has 110 tackles and three interceptions in 1,068 snaps in his career...has 15 tackles in two games against South Carolina...has not missed a game; he has played 26 in a row...fifth on the team in the broad jump (10'2.5").

2008: Came on strong during the second half of the season; he had 51 of his 77 tackles in the last seven games, including a team-high 11 tackles against South Carolina...had eight tackles against Nebraska in the Gator Bowl; he had two tackles for loss and a 28-yard fumble return for a score on a fumble he caused...had nine tackles in his first start in 39 snaps against S.C. State...had six tackles at #21 Wake Forest and seven stops against Georgia Tech...had nine tackles and a caused fumble at Boston College...named defensive player-of-the-game by the coaches at Boston College...had 10 special teams tackles, tied for second-most on the team...had his only interception at Virginia.

2007: First-team All-ACC freshman pick by Sporting News...played 438 snaps, second among Tiger freshman...tied for the most tackles by a Tiger freshman with 33...had at least one tackle in every game...had four stops, all first hits, and two pass breakups in his first game against #19 Florida State...had five pass breakups in the first three games...played 39 snaps off the bench against #19 Florida State...played 54 snaps against Central Michigan...had two interceptions, including one against Central Michigan and one against Boston College's Matt Ryan...had four tackles at South Carolina...had a season-high six tackles and two tackles for loss against #21 Auburn...enrolled at Clemson in the 2007 spring semester and participated in spring practice...had a 34-yard interception, one pass breakup, and four tackles in the Spring Game.

Before Clemson: National prep school top-50 player by Rivals.com; he was listed as the #4 player in the nation...#31 safety in the nation by Scout.com...#1 prep school defensive back in the nation by Rivals.com...received all-region honors by PrepStar...#10 player in Florida by Rivals.com as a senior...signed with Clemson in 2006 but played in the fall of 2006 at Hargrave (VA) Military Academy for Head Coach Robert Prunty...had 48 tackles, four interceptions, and four sacks in 2006...played for Shelton Crews at Amos P. Godby High School...had 53 tackles and eight interceptions, returning three for scores, as a junior...had 27 catches for 656 yards and six scores as a junior wideout...started on both sides of the ball and had three interceptions as a senior...member of PrepStar's Dream Team Top 100 as a senior...Southern Hot 100 member by Scout.com as a senior...#72 player in the nation by CollegeFootballNews.com as a senior...#90 player in the nation by Rivals.com...national ESPN.com top-150 player...#13 defensive back in the nation by PrepStar...member of Rivals 250...#8 safety in the nation by CollegeFootballNews.com...#16 safety in the nation by Scout.com...caught a touchdown pass, blocked a field goal, and intercepted a pass in the same game against Leon County High School during his senior season...starter on the basketball team and averaged 20 points per game...recruited by Dabo Swinney...chose Clemson over Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, and Louisville...born Nov. 26, 1987...majoring in sociology.