page_title: Banks McFadden
section_title: Playing career
hierarchical_section_title: Banks McFadden / Playing career
caption_attribution_description: Banks McFadden carries the ball for Clemson in a 1939 game against Tulane.
context_page_description: James Banks McFadden was an American football and basketball player and coach. McFadden is best known for his association with Clemson University, where he spent 43 years as a player, coach, and administrator. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959.
context_section_description: McFadden is widely considered to be the greatest athlete in Clemson University history, lettering in three sports (football, basketball, and track).  In 1939, McFadden was voted the Associated Press' "Athlete of the Year". McFadden was also a two-time All-American in basketball (1938 and 1939) and led the Tigers basketball team to a Southern Conference championship in 1939.  McFadden also played halfback and punter on the football team and was named Clemson's first Associated Press All-American in football in 1939, which saw the Tigers play and win their 1st bowl game (1940 Cotton Bowl Classic).
  Upon graduating, McFadden played football for the National Football League's Brooklyn Dodgers.  He was the #4 overall NFL draft pick in 1940.  In his first, and only, year as a professional he played in 11 games.  He had the longest rush in the NFL that year - 75 yards.  He was tied for second for most yards per attempt with a 4.8 yards per carry average. He was also fifth in the league for most rushing yards per game. Defensively he had two interceptions.  Despite his success, McFadden preferred the small town life and the family atmosphere of Clemson.  He returned to the state of South Carolina to coach at his alma mater.
caption: McFadden carrying the ball for Clemson against Tulane in 1939.
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