Alex Ardley Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla. High School: Lincoln Height / Weight: 5-10 / 170 Position: CB Birthdate: 12/09/1978 Experience: 2VL

Ardley Fact: First cornerback in Clemson history to start every game as a freshman and sophomore.
Fall 2000 Depth Chart Position: First-team cornerback
Year Lettered: 1998, 1999
Years Started: 1998, 1999
Bowl Game Participation: 1999 Peach Bowl vs. Mississippi State

Overview:
First cornerback in Clemson history to start all 23 games of his freshman and sophomore year...has started each of the last 23 games for the Tigers, every game as his freshman and sophomore year...the 2000 season will be his third straight year as starter at cornerback...has had 19 passes broken up over the last two years, more than any other Tiger...combines with Robert Carswell to give Clemson one of the best corner-safety combinations in the country...both Carswell and Ardley ranked in the top 20 in the nation in interceptions last year...that was the first time in history Clemson had two top 20 intercepters in the same year...has played 1559 career snaps, second among active Tigers...also has 23 starts to his credit, second among active Tigers to Robert Carswell...had good spring of 2000, including a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown in the spring game....has ranked in the top 10 in the ACC in passes broken up each of his first two seasons...has had at least one tackle in 23 straight games, has had at least one PBU in 13 of his 23 starts...has played at least 47 snaps in every game of his career...has had at least 7 tackles in 10 of his 23 games...a prime reason Clemson ranked 17th in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 1999.

In 1999:
Fifth on the team in tackles for the second straight year, he had 62 in 1999 and 70 in 1998...tackle total went down because his reputation improved as teams did not come his way as often...had six tackles in the Peach Bowl against Mississippi State...played 850 snaps in 1999, the highest total ever by a Clemson cornerback...had nine passes broken up to rank second on the Clemson team behind Dextra Polite...Ardley's interception total (5) was tied for second in the ACC...had six tackles and career high three passes broken up in the win over Virginia...had season high nine tackles against Georgia Tech, he also had an interception in that game...had at least one interception in three consecutive games, Wake Forest, Duke and Georgia Tech at midseason...his interception at Wake Forest iced the game...also had an interception at Virginia Tech and seven tackles against the Hokies...played well against North Carolina with seven tackles, all were first hits...also had eight tackles against Florida State, so he had 15 tackles in the games against the teams in the National Championship game.

In 1998:
Hard hitting and strong cornerback who started every game in 1998, the first freshman defensive back to do that since 1943.... returning starter at cornerback who set school record for passes broken up by a freshman with 10...had 70 tackles to rank fifth on the team...sixth in the ACC in passes broken up in 1998, he was second on the team, trailing only All-American Antwan Edwards...had 26-yard interception return for a touchdown against North Carolina in Chapel Hill...first freshman to return an interception for a touchdown since Wayne Simmons went 73 yards at Florida State in 1989...his 709 snaps ranked first among all defensive players on the Clemson team in 1998...had career high 10 tackles in second game of his career against Virginia Tech...had eight stops against Virignia in his third game for his second highest tackle total...had at least one pass deflection in seven of the 11 games, he had two each against Furman, Virginia and Maryland...had seven tackles and the two PBUs in Clemson's victory over the Terps...a mainstay of Clemson's top 25 defense, he averaged 64 plays per game, Clemson opponents averaged 67 snaps per contest...he played at least 47 plays in every game, he played 143 snaps over the last two games combined...won a battle with Darrel Crutchfield for starting cornerback position in the fall practice prior to 1998 season.

In 1997:
Red-shirted the season as a first-year freshman....had an outstanding spring of 1998 and that certainly brought him into the picture at cornerback for 1998..had 16-yard interception return in the spring game, he also had six tackles and a pass deflection.

In High School:
Rated as a second-team All-Southeast Region defensive back by PrepStar...ranked as the 43rd best player in Florida...All-American according to Southeastern Recruiting Alliance...#134 player in the southeast by Tom Lemming...a 6A All-State selection, an All-District choice, and a Big Bend All-Conference player...had six interceptions and 75 tackles at Lincoln HS..also ran track in high school...played for Coach David Wilson...born Alexander A. Ardley on 12-9-78...majoring in industial education.