Tommy Sharpe Class: RS Senior Hometown: Albany, GA High School: Westover HS Height / Weight: 6-0 / 270 Position: C Experience: 2VL

Sharpe Fact: One of four active Tigers who has started each of the last two bowl games.
Years Lettered: 2002,03
Bowl Participation: Starting center in the 2002 Tangerine Bowl against Texas Tech and in the 2004 Peach Bowl against #6 Tennessee.
Fall 2004 Depth Chart Position: First-team center

Overview: Competitive former walk-on who has started 16 of the last 17 games at center; will be the frontrunner as the starter at that position this season...honored as the Offensive Iron Man after the 2003 season; the award is given to the most dependable player, not only in games, but also in practice...has gained 35 pounds of muscle since he walked on to the team...second on the team with a 645-pound squat, an amazing number for someone his size...earned a scholarship after emerging from nowhere in 2002...named a top 10 scholar athlete on the team at the Peach Bowl.

2003: Third on the offensive line with an average grade of 83 percent...second on the team with 56 knockdown blocks, one behind Gregory Walker...led the offensive line in plays during the first six games...led the line in knockdown blocks in four games...led Clemson in film grade over the last two games of the regular season...had seven knockdown blocks apiece against Furman, Georgia Tech, and #24 Virginia...had a season-high eight knockdown blocks against #3 Florida State...played a season-high 89 snaps against #24 Virginia...had a streak of four straight games in which he graded over 80 percent (from the Georgia Tech game through the N.C. State game)...had eight games in which he graded at least 80 percent...his best grade (90 percent) came in 59 plays against Duke...led Clemson blockers with an 88-percent grade at South Carolina...played 77 snaps against #6 Tennessee...tied for second in intimidation blocks (9)...played 828 snaps, fourth-highest on the offense...a big reason Clemson averaged well over 400 yards per game.

2002: Started each of the last four games and five overall; Clemson was 3-2 in those five games...made five starts overall and played 10 of the 13 games at center...played 393 snaps overall and had 47 knockdown blocks (fourth best on the team)...had seven knockdown blocks in 85 plays against Texas Tech; he played every snap in that game; that was the third time in 2002 that he played every snap...joined Touré Francis (CB) as the only original walk-ons to start a game...might have been Clemson's top offensive lineman over the last four games; he led or tied for the team lead in knockdown blocks in each of the last four games...had a career-best 12 knockdowns against South Carolina...had 11 knockdowns at North Carolina and nine against Maryland...had an average film grade of 77 percent...people first took notice when he played 22 snaps as a reserve at Georgia; he had a 77-percent grade...started the Georgia Tech game and played 54 snaps when Jermyn Chester was injured...played 12 snaps against Ball State...played as a reserve against Wake Forest and N.C. State...played 64 of 74 plays against North Carolina as a starter...played every snap in each of the last two regular-season games.

2001: Served as a long snapper in practice, but never could beat out four-year long snapper Henry Owen...did not play in a game.

2000: Red-shirted as a first-year walk-on.

Before Clemson: Played at Westover High School, where he played for Richard Hedges...second-team all-region selection at center as a senior...a first-team all-region selection in his junior season at the AAA level...lettered four years in football, four years in swimming, and two years in track and field...born Thomas C. Sharpe on October 25, 1981...majoring in management.