The Citadel’s one-season wrecking ball at DE
In the 2002 season, Cliff Washburn was a rare one-year football standout for The Citadel who still left a huge footprint: 56 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and a school-record 12 sacks, plus a forced-recovery-return touchdown against Charleston Southern[2][4][7]. His calling card was explosive edge talent—good initial burst, strong upper-body power, and real pass-rush upside—though evaluators noted he was still raw technically after spending four years as a basketball player first[4]. If you want upside, intensity, and a player who can change a game with disruption, he’s the type you care about; if you want a polished, long-developed defensive end, the answer was more “project” than “finished product”[4].
