2020 Football Awards Banquet | Carl Martin Named Brian Dawkins Award Winner
CLEMSON, S.C.—Former Clemson letterman Carl Martin has been named the recipient of the 2021 Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award. Since 2013, Head Coach Dabo Swinney has presented the honor to a former Clemson player who exemplifies excellence in the areas of integrity, scholarship, athletics, service, leadership, commitment, dedication, courage, resilience and spirit.
Recipients must be out of school at least 10 years to qualify. Dawkins, who played 16 years in the NFL and was named to nine Pro Bowls and was a finalist for many public service awards, was the first recipient.
“I was overwhelmed when [Clemson Football Director of Career & Professional Development] Rashard Hall called me,” Martin said. “I know who the former winners are and what they have achieved. To win an award with the Dawkins family name on it and to receive the award from Dabo Swinney’s program is a great honor. Brian Dawkins has represented Clemson and the NFL in the highest degree, and I have admired what Coach Swinney has done at Clemson since he first came to Clemson in 2003. He has built an incredible culture.”
A Life Coach with VisionVentures, Inc., Martin specializes in performance goal-setting and relational skill development for pastors, executives, business leaders and other entrepreneurs. Most importantly, he also supervises a mentoring program in Bluffton, S.C., with which a program he has worked for 15 years. The program has had a positive effect on disadvantaged youth through a long-term program.
Martin graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Political Science after being the smallest player on Danny Ford’s National Championship squad in 1981. He played on Clemson teams of 1979-82, earning letters in 1981 and 1982. The Tigers won the National Championship in 1981 and won ACC titles in 1981 and 1982. He played in every game his junior and senior seasons and recorded 10 special teams tackles, among the top totals on the team for that period.
“Carl is a super person,” said Head Coach Danny Ford in an article on Martin during his playing days. “Pound-for-pound, he is the toughest player on the team and possibly the strongest. He has a lot of pride in his team and this school. It means a lot to us to have a player like Carl Martin on this team.”
After his graduation in the spring of 1983, Martin became a graduate assistant in the Clemson strength training department. He then completed his Master’s Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987 and earned his Doctorate degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1998.
Martin has served two churches as Lead Pastor, planted a church and has worked for the South Carolina Baptist Convention on the Church Planting Team. He recently completed a role as Associate Pastor of Adult Ministries at Low Country Community Church in Bluffton, a church that welcomes 2000 people to their weekend worship venues.
Martin is celebrating 34 years together with his wife, Peggi Nabors Martin, of Greenville S.C., and the Martins have one adult daughter, Lauren.
Brian Dawkins Award Recipients
- 2013: Brian Dawkins, 1992-95
- 2014: Bill Smith, 1977-81
- 2015: Warren Forney, 1991-95
- 2016: Jerry Butler, 1975-78
- 2017: Jeff Davis, 1978-81
- 2018: Mark Richardson, 1979-82
- 2019: Michael Allen, 1995-98
- 2020: Michael Dean Perry, 1984-87
- 2021: Carl Martin, 1979-82
In addition to Martin’s selection for this honor, Clemson's list of awards presented at the team's annual awards banquet on Saturday evening is included below.
OFFENSIVE AWARDS
Solid Rock Award (Most solid, consistent and dependable player(s) at each position)
- QB Trevor Lawrence
- RB Travis Etienne
- WR Amari Rodgers
- WR Cornell Powell
- TE Braden Galloway
- OL Jackson Carman
Hustle Award (Consistent effort and served as an inspiration to teammates)
- RB Darien Rencher
- OL Cade Stewart
- WR Will Swinney
12th Man Award
- TE Davis Allen
- OL Walker Parks
- QB D.J. Uiagalelei
- WR E.J. Williams
Iron Man Award (Dependable player with resilient persistence and leadership)
- TE Davis Allen
- OL Matt Bockhorst
- OL Cade Stewart
Most Improved Offensive Players of the Year
- OL Jordan McFadden
- RB Chez Mellusi
- WR Cornell Powell
- OL Will Putnam
Rookies of the Year
- OL Walker Parks
- QB D.J. Uiagalelei
- WR E.J. Williams
Defensive Scout Team Players of the Year
- LB Sergio Allen
- S Carson Donnelly
- DL James Edwards
- LB Kevin Swint
Tiger Pride Award (MVP)
- RB Travis Etienne
- QB Trevor Lawrence
- WR Cornell Powell
- WR Amari Rodgers
Future Impact Players
- WR Ajou Ajou
- RB Kobe Pace
- WR Brannon Spector
- OL Mason Trotter
Paw Award (Most blue collar/unselfish player)
- TE Davis Allen
- TE JC Chalk
- OL Will Putnam
- RB Darien Rencher
- WR Brannon Spector
DEFENSIVE AWARDS
Solid Rock Award (Most solid, consistent and dependable player(s) at each position)
- DE Myles Murphy
- DT Tyler Davis
- LB Baylon Spector
- LB James Skalski
- CB Andrew Booth
- CB Derion Kendrick
- S Nolan Turner
Hustle Award (Consistent effort and served as an inspiration to teammates)
- S Joseph Charleston
- DT Tyler Davis
- LB Baylon Spector
- S Nolan Turner
12th Man Award
- CB Andrew Booth
- S Joseph Charleston
- DT Nyles Pinckney
- LB Trenton Simpson
- LB Jake Venables
Iron Man Award (Dependable player with resilient persistence and leadership)
- DT Tyler Davis
- DE K.J. Henry
- LB James Skalski
- LB Baylon Spector
- S Nolan Turner
Most Improved Defensive Players of the Year
- CB Andrew Booth
- LB Mike Jones Jr.
- DE Justin Mascoll
- LB Baylon Spector
- LB Jake Venables
- S Lannden Zanders
Rookies of the Year
- DL Bryan Bresee
- DE Myles Murphy
- LB Trenton Simpson
Offensive Scout Team Players of the Year
- TE Will Blackston
- WR Hamp Greene
- WR Max May
- OL Zac McIntosh
Tiger Pride Award (MVP)
- LB James Skalski
- LB Baylon Spector
- S Nolan Turner
Future Impact Players
- DT DeMonte Capehart
- CB Fred Davis II
- CB Malcolm Greene
- S R.J. Mickens
- S Tyler Venables
- DT Tré Williams
Paw Award (Most blue collar/unselfish player)
- LB LaVonta Bentley
- LB Mike Jones Jr.
- LB Keith Maguire
- LB Kane Patterson
- S Jalyn Phillips
- DE Regan Upshaw
SPECIAL TEAMS AWARDS
Most Improved Special Teams Player of the Year
- LS Jack Maddox
Offensive Special Teams Players of the Year
- TE Davis Allen
- WR Amari Rodgers
- H Will Swinney
Defensive Special Teams Players of the Year
- S Carson Donnelly
- DT Nyles Pinckney
- S Elijah Turner
Specialists of the Year
- PK B.T. Potter
- P Will Spiers
STRENGTH AWARDS (NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-Americans)
- OL Matt Bockhorst
- LB James Skalski
- OL Cade Stewart
- DE Regan Upshaw
Dedication Award
- WR Amari Rodgers
- LB James Skalski
All-In Accountability Challenge Champion Captains
- LS Tyler Brown
- OL Cade Stewart
All-In Accountability Challenge Champion Team Members
- TE Davis Allen
- LB Sergio Allen
- OL Will Boggs
- LB David Cote
- S Peter Cote
- S Carson Donnelly
- DT James Edwards
- TE Jaelyn Lay
- OL Walker Parks
- QB Taisun Phommachanh
- OL Hunter Rayburn
- OL Mason Trotter
- OL Blake Vinson
ADDITIONAL AWARDS
Most Inspirational Player of the Year
- RB Darien Rencher
GPA Awards
- Overall: WR Max May, LB David Cote, S Elijah Turner
- Senior: WR Will Swinney
- Junior: WR Will Brown
- Sophomore: WR Drew Swinney
- Freshman (Midyear Enrollee): TE Sage Ennis
- Freshman (Summer Enrollee): CB Malcolm Greene
True Tigers of the Year (Presented by Nieri Family Student-Athlete Enrichment Center staff)
- RB Travis Etienne
- TE Jaelyn Lay
- PK B.T. Potter
- S Ray Thornton III
Spiritual Leadership Award
- RB Darien Rencher
- Former TE/student coach Cole Renfrow
Tim Bourret Award (Player who best represents himself, his teammates and Clemson University in the media)
- WR Amari Rodgers
P.A.W. Journey Professional of the Year
- WR Josh Jackson
P.A.W. Journey Service Above Self Award
- LS Jack Maddox
P.A.W. Journey P.A.T. Man of the Year
- QB Trevor Lawrence
Team Captains
- QB Trevor Lawrence
- DT Nyles Pinckney
- WR Amari Rodgers
- LB James Skalski
- OL Cade Stewart
- S Nolan Turner
