Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

Clemson University

Former Clemson linebacker Levon Kirkland was named an ACC Legend Wednesday. Kirkland, who went on to play 11 years in the NFL, mostly with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was an All-American linebacker for the Clemson Tigers in 1990 and '91.

CLEMSON — Former Clemson and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Levon Kirkland, who now works for Clemson University as its coordinator of Minority Recruitment Initiatives, was named to the Class of 2008 Dr. Pepper ACC Football Championship Game Legends Wednesday.

Kirkland started four seasons for the Tigers from 1988 through 1991, while playing under head coaches Danny Ford and Ken Hatfield. He helped Clemson post a 39-8-1 record including ACC Championships in 1988 and 1991.

A three-time first-team All-ACC selection, he earned second-team All-America honors in 1990 and consensus first-team All-America accolades in 1991. During his junior campaign, he was part of a Clemson defense which led the nation in total defense that season, capped with a 30-0 shutout of Big 10 runner-up Illinois in the 1991 Hall of Fame Bowl.

As a senior in 1991, he led a Clemson rushing defense which was the nation's best. A 2nd-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1992, he played 11 years in the NFL twice earning all-pro honors and was selected to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1990s.

Originally a native of Lamar, S.C., Kirkland now lives in Greer.

The Legends will be honored at this year's Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship game weekend. They will appear at the ACC Coaches and Awards Luncheon at noon on Friday, Dec. 5, and will be honored at the "ACC Night of Legends" held at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay on Friday evening. They will also be recognized during pre-game ceremonies at Raymond James Stadium.

The group of 12 former ACC gridiron standouts includes an Outland Trophy winner, three former ACC Players of the Year, 10 former All-Americans and 10 players who combined for a total of 106 years of experience in the National Football League.

In all, this year's Legends class include five consensus All-Americas in Stan Jones, Marcus Jones, Kirkland, Russell Maryland, and Bill Yoest; two NFL first-round draft picks in Maryland, who was actually the first selection of the entire 1991 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys, and Marcus Jones; two 2nd-round NFL Draft picks in Kirkland and Yoest; one 3rd-round selection in Swilling; a pair of 4th-rounders in Kannell and DeOssie; and three 5th-round picks in Barber, Strock and Stan Jones.

Here is the 2008 ACC Football Championship Legends Class:

Name School Years Position Hometown (Current)

Steve DeOssie Boston College 1980-83 Linebacker Tacoma,WA (Charlestown, MA)

Levon Kirkland Clemson 1988-91 Linebacker Lamar, SC (Greer, SC)

Claude "Tee" Moorman,II Duke 1958-60 Tight End Miami, FL (Plymouth, NC)

Danny Kanell Florida State 1992-95 Quarterback Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Pat Swilling Georgia Tech 1982-85 Linebacker Toccoa, GA (New Orleans, LA)

Stan Jones Maryland 1950-53 Def. Tackle Altoona, PA (Boomfield, CO)

Russell Maryland Miami 1987-90 Def. Tackle Miami, FL (South Lake, TX)

Marcus Jones North Carolina 1992-95 Def. Tackle Jacksonville, NC (Lutz, FL)

Bill Yoest N.C. State 1970-73 Guard Pittsburgh, PA (Raleigh, NC)

Tiki Barber Virginia 1993-96 Tailback Roanoke, VA (New York, NY)

Don Strock Virginia Tech 1970-73 Quarterback Pottstown, PA (Weston, FL)

John Henry Mills Wake Forest 1988-92 Tight End Jacksonville, FL (Houston, TX)