Staff Reports
March 26, 2008 - 12:15 a.m. EST

Former Clemson linebacker Levon Kirkland is among the headliners in the South Carolina Hall of Fame class of 2008 that was announced on Monday.

Joining Kirkland in the class are former South Carolina hoops star Mike Dunleavy, who is now the head coach of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, longtime high school basketball coach Carl Williams, former major league pitcher Bob Bolin, former South Carolina sports information director Tom Price, former Furman golfer Dottie Pepper and former Duke and NFL standout Ernie Jackson.

Kirkland was a two-time All-American for Clemson in the early 1990s, as he helped lead the Tigers' defense that ranked No. 1 overall in 1990, as well as No. 1 in rushing defense during the 1991 season.

At the time of his graduation, he ranked No. 6 in school history in sacks with 19, No. 8 in tackles for loss with 40 and was tied for No. 2 in fumble recoveries with seven. Those accolades helped earn him a spot on Clemson's All-Centennial team that was chosen in 1996.

Following his Clemson career, Kirkland was a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers after the team selected him in the second round of the 1992 draft.

He recorded 10 tackles and a sack in the Steelers' loss to Dallas in Super Bowl XXX and eventually became the NFL's highest paid linebacker.

After leaving Pittsburgh following the 2000 season, Kirkland played two more seasons in Seattle and Philadelphia.

After being inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2001, Kirkland returned to school in 2004 to complete his degree, and now works in the school's admission office in the recruitment of minority students.

Kirkland and the other members of the 2008 Hall of Fame class will be inducted on May 19 in the annual bluejacket ceremony at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

The banquet begins at 5:30 p.m. with a reception followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets ($500 for a table of eight), as well as ads, can be purchased by contacting the SCAHOF office at 1310 Lady St., 9th floor, Columbia, SC (803-770-0905).