The Best of 2009

CLEMSON -- The Tigers will undertake their first of 10 bowl practices today leading up to the Dec. 27 Music City Bowl against Kentucky.

In the spirit of the Heisman Trophy presentation and ESPN's college football awards show, The Post and Courier offers its Clemson football awards with the regular season complete.

OFFENSIVE MVP -- C.J. Spiller, running back

No. 28 is going to be retired at Clemson, so this selection shouldn't surprise. Spiller finished with 20 touchdowns this season, nine of 50 yards or longer. He saved his best for last at the ACC title game, setting career bests with 233 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He has rushed for 1,145 yards and is third on the team in receiving (445) this season.

BEST LINEMAN -- Chris Hairston, left tackle

This is all you need to know about Hairston: Clemson is 8-3 with him in the lineup this season and 0-2 without him. Hairston made improvements as a junior, becoming a reliable blind-side protector for Kyle Parker, the only such asset on the Clemson roster. In losses to Maryland and TCU -- Clemson was essentially without Hairston who missed the TCU game and played nine snaps at Maryland -- Clemson averaged 99 yards rushing and 15.5 points.

BEST RECEIVER -- Jacoby Ford, wide receiver

Yes, Ford provided the top moment of the season, identifying an overplay in the Miami defense to reel in the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Hurricanes. Yes, Ford led the Tigers in receptions (53), receiving yards (735) and touchdowns (5), but he also impacted the game without the ball. Defenses have to respect Ford's world-class speed, and never was that more evident than on Spiller's wheel routes when Ford typically ran a post to clear a corner and safety leaving Spiller needing only to beat a linebacker for a long gain.

BEST ROOKIE -- Kyle Parker, quarterback

The regular season ended on a low note, but consider no freshman quarterback in the country won more games than Parker, and the two-sport star set Clemson freshman records in passing yardage and touchdowns.

HONORABLE MENTION -- Michael Palmer, tight end

An excellent leader and intermediate target, Palmer emerged in the offense to give Parker a security blanket and mid-range target in the passing game. He caught 41 passes, a Clemson record for a tight end.

DEFENSIVE MVP -- DeAndre McDaniel, safety

McDaniel's play tailed off late in the year, but no safety was as productive in the country.

McDaniel finished tied for second in the nation with eight interceptions, and finished fourth on the team in tackles, which included two sacks. The question for Clemson nation is this: are these McDaniel's last practices as a Tiger? McDaniel said he's leaning "hard" toward returning. Still, he will submit his NFL paperwork to gauge interest and remains a second-round NFL prospect according to CBSSportsline.

BEST LINEMAN -- Da'Quan Bowers, defensive end

He still hasn't lived up to No. 1-overall-prospect hype, but as a sophomore Bowers began to be a force against the run and became more effective in rushing the passer. Despite missing two games, he was second on the team in quarterback pressures (12) and had three sacks.

BEST LINEBACKER -- Brandon Maye, linebacker

Maye made strides as a sophomore to lead the team with 103 tackles. Maye will be the only starting linebacker who will be back for next season.

BEST ROOKIE -- Rashard Hall, safety

While much was made of McDaniel's eight interceptions this season, Hall was actually more dangerous per snap, recording six picks in 476 snaps. McDaniel was on the field for 832 plays.

HONORABLE MENTION -- Jarvis Jenkins, tackle

Jenkins played in sizeable shadows alongside potential future NFL first-rounders in Bowers and Ricky Sapp and highly touted tackle in Brandon Thompson. But Jenkins was productive as any Clemson defensive lineman finishing with a line-best 66 tackles and 11 tackles for loss.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.