Former Clemson wide receiver Dwight Clark has been named one of the 2018 inductees for the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame.
The enshrinement will take place in Greenville on April 19, 2018.
The Class of 2018 inductees include Clark, John Abraham (University of South Carolina), Paul Maguire (The Citadel), Clay Matthews Sr. (Georgia Tech/Legacy Inductee), and Richard Seymour (University of Georgia).
Clark played for Clemson between 1975-78 and was part of a class that brought Clemson to its first bowl game in 18 years in 1977. The following year, Clark’s senior year, the Tigers finished 11-1 and had a No. 6 final national ranking and won the ACC Championship.
Clark had 33 receptions for 571 yards in his Clemson career as one of the receivers on an offense run by quarterback Steve Fuller. Clark’s 17.3 yards per reception still ranks seventh best in Clemson history.
The North Carolinian was a 10th round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in April of 1979 by the San Francisco 49ers. Clark joined forces with Joe Montana and others to help the 49ers to a pair of Super Bowl Championships in the 1980s.
Of course Clark’s game-winning catch against the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship Game is considered one of the greatest plays in NFL history and is simply known at “The Catch,” which coincidently Clark was a part of the 1977 win over South Carolina when his teammate Jerry Butler made what is known as “The Catch” to beat the Gamecocks in Columbia.
Clark finished his NFL career with 506 receptions for 6,750 yards and 48 touchdowns. His No. 87 was retired by the 49ers.
Clark was named the NFL Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 1982. He is the only former Clemson football player to be named NFL Player of the Year by any service. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1982 and 1983.
During his retirement from the game, he has been involved in NFL administration and was General Manager of the 49ers and the Cleveland Browns.
The 2018 Enshrinement Ceremony is set for April 19 at the Embassy Suites at Verdae in Greenville, SC.
–Staff Reports
–Photo courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers
