Dawson Zimmerman

Classroom

Zimmerman maintains a 3.92 GPA in English and is on pace to graduate in December. After graduation he plans to obtain a master’s in children’s literature or fiction writing. He’s been honored several times for his academic achievements, including being a three-time member of the ACC Academic honor roll, a two-time member of the Academic All-ACC team and a two-time member of Clemson’s All-Academic team. Zimmerman’s been on the Dean’s List since 2008 and he’s a member of both the Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.

Character

Zimmerman is very involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, having taken trips with the Clemson branch to perform volunteer work in St. Louis in 2009 and Memphis in 2010. He served as the group leader in Memphis. Zimmerman has also traveled to Biloxi, Miss., in 2006 to help with relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina and to Ecuador for relief work in 2007. He has served as an intern at Grace Fellowship Church, overseeing the production of resources for the L.U.G. Youth Program. “Dawson is a very bright and intelligent young man,” academic advisor Reggie Simpkins said. “Whatever path he decides to take after college, he will be successful.”

Community

Zimmerman has participated in several community-outreach programs in the past year alone, including volunteering at the Dabo Swinney Ladies Clinic, the Shriners Hospital, Clemson Elementary School and Serenity Place Boys Academy. He has also helped with events such as Harvest Hope Food Drive, Boy Scout Day, Football Fan Day and Camp Read-A-Rama. In previous years, Zimmerman has also visited nursing homes and children’s hospitals, and participated in Relay for Life and Race for the Cure, among other things.

Competition

Zimmerman enters his senior year as a preseason All-ACC selection and he’s on the watch list for the CFPA Punter Trophy. He has a career 40.8-yard average (seventh best in school history) on 127 punts, along with 40 punts inside the 20-yard line, 15 punts of 50+ yards and a 38.2-yard net average in 29 games. As a junior, he averaged 42.7 yards on 60 punts and was the only ACC punter to be named one of 10 finalists for the Ray Guy Award.