Eric Sampson Class: Senior Hometown: Jacksonville, FL High School: White High School Height / Weight: 6-2 / 205 Position: WHIP Experience: 2VL

Sampson Fact: Veteran of 1,521 plays on defense, more than any other active Tiger defensive player.
Years Lettered: 2001,03
Bowl Participation: Reserve linebacker in the 2001 Humanitarian Bowl against Louisiana Tech and starting WHIP linebacker in the 2004 Peach Bowl against #6 Tennessee.
Fall 2004 Depth Chart Position: First-team WHIP linebacker

Overview: Listed as the starter at WHIP linebacker for the third consecutive season...has the versatility to assist in stopping the run along with covering backs and tight ends...started eight games last season; he missed a few games due to injury...has 20 starts for his career, also a high among active Tiger defenders...played less plays in 2003 as compared to 2002, due to the injuries...named most improved at his position in the weight room this past winter...had a solid spring practice, but was pushed hard by second-team performer Lionel Richardson...has 164 tackles, two sacks, and an interception during his career...his career tackle total is second among active Tigers behind Leroy Hill...looks to return to the big-play performer he was in 2002...one of the most improved on the team in terms of academics; he was on the Dean's List in the second semester of the 2003-04 academic year.

2003: Had 50 tackles, a sack, and two pass breakups...did not start, but played 44 snaps and notched eight tackles in the season-opener against #9 Georgia; started the following four games...had eight tackles against Middle Tennessee...had his only sack in the win at Georgia Tech...suffered an injury at Maryland; it caused him to miss the Virginia game...came back to play at N.C. State, but was out for the North Carolina game as well...had four tackles in a start at Wake Forest...big reason Clemson defeated #6 Tennessee in the Peach Bowl; he played 64 snaps, and recorded seven tackles and a fumble recovery; he blitzed a good portion of the time against the Volunteers; had a quarterback pressure in that game as well.

2002: Had at least two tackles in every game he played; he played all 12 regular-season games...had a career-high 15 tackles at Duke in Clemson's come-from-behind win...had seven first hits, his career high, at Duke; played a career-high 83 snaps in that game...averaged 8.8 tackles per game over his last five games...had nine tackles in the opener against Georgia, which included his only sack of the season...had seven stops in playing all 83 snaps in the win over Wake Forest...had a 35-yard interception return against Georgia Tech that iced the Tigers' five-point win; it was his first career interception...had nine tackles each against N.C. State and Maryland.

2001: Second on the team among freshmen in tackles (31); only Donnell Washington had more...named the Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year by the Clemson coaching staff...a big reason Clemson was able to defeat Wake Forest in Winston-Salem; he had 14 tackles in 69 snaps...that was the most tackles by a Tiger first-year freshman since Anthony Simmons (1995)...came on early in the first quarter for an injured John Leake and responded with six first hits and eight assists...played 36 snaps at South Carolina and had five tackles, his second-highest total of the season...had at least one tackle in nine of the last 10 games, including four in 26 plays against Duke...also a fine special-teams performer for the Tigers...had 35 tackles in 10 games; he averaged 20 plays per game as a reserve...played 18 snaps in the opener against Central Florida, then did not play against Wofford...had five special-teams tackles among his 31 stops...voted the most improved secondary player of spring practice in 2002.

Before Clemson: A SuperPrep All-American...ranked as the #53 player in Florida by SuperPrep...a Tom Lemming All-Southeast selection...had 109 tackles, four interceptions, and 12 sacks at Ed White High School in Jacksonville, FL...played for Coach Dan Disch...ranked among the top 100 players in the South by Journal Constitution...ranked as the 33rd-best safety in the nation by Rivals100.com; he was a three-star player...named a Tom Lemming All-American...named to the Florida Super 11 and Super 24 teams and was among the top 75 players in Florida by the Florida Times Union...an all-state player at the AAAAA level in Florida as a junior and senior...all-area, all-conference, and all-district as a junior and senior...from the same high school as current teammate Jamaal Fudge...chose Clemson over Auburn, Florida, and Miami (FL)...born Eric L. Sampson on January 6, 1983...majoring in human resource development.