Clemson to honor former Browns DT

The Cleveland Browns selected defensive tackle Michael Dean Perry in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft.

That selection helped take some of the sting as Perry was sandwiched between linebacker Clifford Charlton (first round) and linebacker Van Waiters (third round) for the Browns in that year’s draft. In seven seasons with the Browns, Perry was a First-Team All-Pro twice and added five Pro Bowl selections.

On Saturday, Perry will be honored by Clemson when he is inducted into the program’s Ring of Honor at halftime of Clemson’s game against LSU.

Perry played for Clemson from 1984-87 and was a first-team All-American and ACC player of the year in his final season. He recorded a school-record 61 tackles for loss, and had 28 sacks, including 10 his senior season when he was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s top lineman.

He was so talented that during a scrimmage in his senior season, Clemson head coach Danny Ford asked Perry to leave practice after he had five tackles for loss in the first 20 plays. The offense simply could not get any work in with Perry being so disruptive.

This is not the first post-career honor that Perry has received from Clemson. In 2020, he was honored by head coach Dabo Swinney with the Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented to a former player who has demonstrated the qualities of leadership, community service, and other qualities that are consistent with excellence since graduating from the school, according to an article from the Clemson website.

Perry was also named to Clemson’s centennial team in 2000 and was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame the same year.

The Ring of Honor is the school’s highest award for athletics. To qualify, recipients must have made an outstanding contribution to the heritage of Clemson athletics, must be a member of the Clemson athletic Hall of Fame, and must be a graduate of a four-year institution.