2015 Clemson Tigers football team

2015 Clemson Tigers football
CFP National Championship finalist
ACC champion
ACC Atlantic Division champion
Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
W 37–17 vs. Oklahoma
CFP National Championship
L 40–45 vs. Alabama
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference
Division Atlantic Division
Ranking
Coaches No. 2
AP No. 2
2015 record 14–1 (8–0 ACC)
Head coach Dabo Swinney (7th full, 8th overall season)
Co-offensive coordinator Tony L. Elliott (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott (1st season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables (4th season)
Base defense 4–3
Captain Travis Blanks
B.J. Goodson
Eric MacLain
Charone Peake
D.J. Reader
Stanton Seckinger
Home stadium Memorial Stadium
(Capacity: 81,500)
2015 ACC football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Atlantic Division
No. 2 Clemson x$^   8 – 0         14 – 1  
No. 14 Florida State   6 – 2         10 – 3  
Louisville   5 – 3         8 – 5  
NC State   3 – 5         7 – 6  
Syracuse   2 – 6         4 – 8  
Wake Forest   1 – 7         3 – 9  
Boston College   0 – 8         3 – 9  
Coastal Division
No. 15 North Carolina x   8 – 0         11 – 3  
Pittsburgh   6 – 2         8 – 5  
Miami   5 – 3         8 – 5  
Duke   4 – 4         8 – 5  
Virginia Tech   4 – 4         7 – 6  
Virginia   3 – 5         4 – 8  
Georgia Tech   1 – 7         3 – 9  
Championship: Clemson 45, North Carolina 37
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
As of January 12, 2016; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2015 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his seventh full year and eighth overall since taking over midway through 2008 season. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium, also known as "Death Valley." Clemson competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. On December 5, 2015, the Tigers won the 2015 ACC Championship Game by defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels, 45–37, capping their first undefeated regular season since winning the national title in 1981. Ranked No. 1 throughout the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, Clemson defeated the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners, 37–17, in the 2015 Orange Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship. On January 11, 2016, the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (13–1) defeated the No. 1 Clemson Tigers (14–0) in the 2016 national championship, 45–40. Both Clemson and Alabama finished the season 14–1.

Schedule

Clemson announced their 2015 football schedule on January 29, 2015. The 2015 schedule consisted of seven home and five away games in the regular season. The Tigers hosted ACC foes Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest, and travelled to Louisville, Miami, NC State, and Syracuse.[1] Clemson hosted #4 seed Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl in the first round of the 2015-16 College Football Playoff. The Tigers then hosted #2 seed Alabama in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship in University of Phoenix Stadium.

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 5 12:30 p.m. Wofford* No. 12 Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC ACCN W 49–10   81,345
September 12 12:30 p.m. Appalachian State* No. 12 Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC ESPN3 W 41–10   81,467
September 17 7:30 p.m. at Louisville No. 11 Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY ESPN W 20–17   55,396
October 3 8:00 p.m. No. 6 Notre Dame* No. 12 Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC ABC W 24–22   82,415
October 10 3:30 p.m. Georgia Tech No. 6 Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Rivalry) ABC/ESPN2 W 43–24   80,983
October 17 7:00 p.m. Boston Collegedagger No. 5 Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy) ESPNU W 34–17   81,416
October 24 12:00 p.m. at Miami (FL) No. 6 Sun Life Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL ABC W 58–0   45,211
October 31 3:30 p.m. at NC State No. 3 Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl) ABC/ESPN2 W 56–41   57,600
November 7 3:30 p.m. No. 16 Florida State No. 3 Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Rivalry) ABC W 23–13   83,099
November 14 3:30 p.m. at Syracuse No. 1 Carrier Dome • Syracuse, NY ABC/ESPN2 W 37–27   36,736
November 21 3:30 p.m. Wake Forest No. 1 Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC ESPN2 W 33–13   81,577
November 28 12:00 p.m. at South Carolina* No. 1 Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC (Palmetto Bowl) ESPN W 37–32   81,409
December 5 8:00 p.m. vs. No. 8 North Carolina No. 1 Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC (ACC Championship Game) ABC W 45–37   74,514
December 31 4:00 p.m. vs. No. 4 Oklahoma No. 1 Sun Life Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL (Orange Bowl – CFP Semifinal) ESPN W 37–17   67,615
January 10, 2016 8:30 p.m. vs. No. 2 Alabama No. 1 University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZ (CFP National Championship) ESPN L 40–45   75,765
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time Zone.
Schedule source:[2]

Roster

2015 Clemson Tigers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Thompson, TrevionTrevion Thompson  Fr
QB 2 Bryant, KellyKelly Bryant Fr
WR 3 Scott, ArtavisArtavis Scott So
QB 4 Watson, DeshaunDeshaun Watson So
WR 5 Hopper, GermoneGermone Hopper  Jr
WR 7 Williams, MikeMike Williams  Jr
WR 8 Cain, DeonDeon Cain Fr
RB 9 Gallman, WayneWayne Gallman  So
QB 10 Israel, TuckerTucker Israel Fr
WR 11 Bell, ShadellShadell Bell Fr
QB 12 Schuessler, NickNick Schuessler  Jr
WR, P 13 Renfrow, HunterHunter Renfrow  Fr
TE 16 Leggett, JordanJordan Leggett Jr
QB 18 Barnes, JamesJames Barnes Fr
WR 19 Peake, CharoneCharone Peake  Sr
RB 21 Davidson, C. J.C. J. Davidson  Sr
RB 22 Dye, TyshonTyshon Dye  So
RB 24 Brooks, ZacZac Brooks Sr
RB 26 Choice, AdamAdam Choice So
RB 27 Fuller, C. J.C. J. Fuller  Fr
WR 34 McCloud, Ray-RayRay-Ray McCloud Fr
RB 38 Goodnature, BrennanBrennan Goodnature  Sr
WR 39 Bianchi, JordanJordan Bianchi  Sr
TE 44 Williams, GarrettGarrett Williams Fr
OL 50 Falcinelli, JustinJustin Falcinelli  Fr
OL 51 Hearn, TaylorTaylor Hearn  Fr
OL 54 Riggs, ZachZach Riggs  So
OG 55 Crowder, TyroneTyrone Crowder  So
OL 57 Guillermo, JayJay Guillermo  Jr
OL 58 Norton, RyanRyan Norton  Sr
OT 61 Cockerill, WilliamWilliam Cockerill Sr
OT 63 Fruhmorgen, JakeJake Fruhmorgen Fr
OL 64 Godfrey, PatPat Godfrey Fr
OT 65 Stone, DanielDaniel Stone Sr
OG 69 Morris, MaverickMaverick Morris  So
OG 70 Penner, SethSeth Penner Fr
OL 71 Green, NoahNoah Green Fr
OL 72 Tisch, LoganLogan Tisch Fr
OL 73 Gore, JoeJoe Gore  Sr
OT 75 Hyatt, MitchMitch Hyatt Fr
C 77 Geilla, ZachZach Geilla Fr
OG 78 Mac Lain, EricEric Mac Lain  Sr
OL 79 Tucker, HarrisonHarrison Tucker  Sr
TE 80 Richard, MilanMilan Richard  Fr
TE 81 Seckinger, StantonStanton Seckinger  Sr
WR 82 Dunn, AdrienAdrien Dunn  So
TE 83 Fisher, JesseJesse Fisher Fr
TE 84 Smith, CannonCannon Smith  Fr
WR 85 Ryan, SethSeth Ryan  So
WR 86 Thomason, TyTy Thomason Fr
TE 87 Greenlee, D. J.D. J. Greenlee  So
WR 88 Mac Lane, SeanSean Mac Lane Jr
TE 89 McCullough, Jay JayJay Jay McCullough  Jr
 Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 1 Kearse, JayronJayron Kearse Jr
CB 2 Alexander, MackensieMackensie Alexander  So
LB 6 O'Daniel, DorianDorian O'Daniel  So
LB 10 Boulware, BenBen Boulware Jr
LB 11 Blanks, TravisTravis Blanks  Jr
S 12 Wiggins, KorrinKorrin Wiggins  Jr
CB 14 Johnson, DenzelDenzel Johnson Fr
S 15 Green, T. J.T. J. Green Jr
S 17 Gibson, JefferieJefferie Gibson  Fr
S 18 Johnson, JadarJadar Johnson Jr
S 19 Muse, TannerTanner Muse Fr
CB 20 Chalmers, KalebKaleb Chalmers Fr
CB 21 Baker, AdrianAdrian Baker  So
S 23 Smith, VanVan Smith Fr
CB 24 Fields, MarkMark Fields Fr
CB 25 Tankersley, CordreaCordrea Tankersley Jr
CB 29 Edmond, MarcusMarcus Edmond  So
LB 30 Williams, JalenJalen Williams Fr
CB 31 Carter, RyanRyan Carter  So
S 32 Cote, KyleKyle Cote Fr
LB 33 Davis, J. D.J. D. Davis Fr
LB 34 Joseph, KendallKendall Joseph  Fr
LB 35 Hall, QuentinQuentin Hall Sr
LB 37 Davis, JudahJudah Davis Fr
S 37 Scott, CameronCameron Scott  Fr
CB 38 Trapp, AmirAmir Trapp Fr
DE 40 Brice, JaquariusJaquarius Brice  So
DT 40 Byers, RoderickRoderick Byers  Sr
LB 41 Burrell, T. J.T. J. Burrell  Jr
DT 42 Wilkins, ChristianChristian Wilkins Fr
LB 43 Smith, ChadChad Smith Fr
LB 44 Goodson, B. J.B. J. Goodson  Sr
DE 45 Register, ChrisChris Register  Fr
LB 46 Magwood, JarvisJarvis Magwood  Fr
DT 48 Reader, D. J.D. J. Reader Sr
S 49 Brown, BeauBeau Brown  Sr
DE 49 Yeargin, RichardRichard Yeargin  Fr
DT 50 Robinson, JabrilJabril Robinson  Fr
LB 52 Prevost, ConnorConnor Prevost  So
LB 53 Aiken, MartinMartin Aiken  Jr
DT 56 Pagano, ScottScott Pagano  So
DE 59 Mauldin, CollinsCollins Mauldin  Sr
DE 60 Bevelle, KelbyKelby Bevelle  So
DE 62 Bevelle, KalebKaleb Bevelle  So
DT 67 Huggins, AlbertAlbert Huggins Fr
DE 85 Rogers, DaneDane Rogers  So
DE 90 Lawson, ShaqShaq Lawson Jr
DE 91 Bryant, AustinAustin Bryant Fr
DE 93 Johnson, SterlingSterling Johnson Fr
DT 94 Watkins, CarlosCarlos Watkins  Jr
DT 95 Cervenka, GageGage Cervenka Fr
DE 98 Dodd, KevinKevin Dodd Jr
DE 99 Ferrell, ClelinClelin Ferrell Fr
 Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 32 Teasdall, AndyAndy Teasdall  Jr
K, P 36 Lakip, AmmonAmmon Lakip  Sr
K, P 39 Groomes, ChristianChristian Groomes  Fr
K 47 Spence, AlexAlex Spence So
LS 52 Spence, AustinAustin Spence Fr
LS 59 Tatko, BradleyBradley Tatko  So
LS 61 Estes, DavidDavid Estes  Jr
LS 76 Brown, JimJim Brown  Sr
K 92 Huegel, GregGreg Huegel  Fr
P 96 Batson, MichaelMichael Batson Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Tony Elliott – Co-Offensive Coordinator / Running Backs
  • Jeff Scott – Co-Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers
  • Danny Pearman – Assistant Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator & Tight Ends
  • Robbie Caldwell – Offensive Linemen
  • Brandon Streeter – Quarterbacks / Recruiting Coordinator
  • Brent Venables – Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
  • Marion Hobby – Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Ends
  • Mike Reed – Associate Head Coach / Defensive Backs
  • Dan Brooks – Defensive Tackles
  • Thomas Austin – Graduate Assistant
  • Tyler Grisham – Graduate Assistant
  • DeAndre McDaniel – Graduate Assistant
  • Corico White – Graduate Assistant
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: November 22, 2015

Recruiting class

Game summaries

Wofford

1 2 3 4 Total
Terriers 0 7 3 0 10
#12 Tigers 14 21 7 7 49
Overall record Last meeting Result
11–3 2011 CLEM, 35–27

Appalachian State

1 2 3 4 Total
Mountaineers 0 0 3 7 10
#12 Tigers 3 28 7 3 41
Overall record Last meeting Result
4–0 1997 CLEM, 23–12

Louisville

1 2 3 4 Total
#11 Tigers 0 7 10 3 20
Cardinals 0 3 7 7 17
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–0 2014 CLEM, 23–17

Notre Dame

1 2 3 4 Total
#6 Fighting Irish 3 0 0 19 22
#12 Tigers 14 0 7 3 24
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–1 1979 CLEM, 16–10

Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total
Yellow Jackets 3 7 7 7 24
#6 Tigers 19 14 7 3 43
Overall record Last meeting Result
27–51–2 2014 GT, 28–6

Boston College

1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 7 3 0 7 17
#5 Tigers 10 7 10 7 34
Overall record Last meeting Result
13–9–2 2014 CLEM, 17–13

Miami (FL)

1 2 3 4 Total
#6 Tigers 21 21 3 13 58
Hurricanes 0 0 0 0 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–6 2010 MIA, 30–21

NC State

1 2 3 4 Total
#3 Tigers 16 10 21 9 56
Wolfpack 13 7 7 14 41
Overall record Last meeting Result
54–28–1 2014 CLEM 41–0

Florida State

1 2 3 4 Total
#16 Seminoles 7 3 3 0 13
#1 Tigers 3 3 7 10 23
Overall record Last meeting Result
8–20 2014 FSU, 23–17

Syracuse

1 2 3 4 Total
#1 Tigers 21 10 0 6 37
Orange 14 3 7 3 27
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–1 2014 CLEM, 16–6

Wake Forest

1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 0 7 0 6 13
#1 Tigers 20 10 3 0 33
Overall record Last meeting Result
62–17–1 2014 CLEM, 34–20

South Carolina

1 2 3 4 Total
#1 Tigers 0 14 14 9 37
Gamecocks 0 3 14 15 32
Overall record Last meeting Result
66–42–4 2014 CLEM, 35–17

ACC Championship Game

#1 Clemson Tigers vs #8 North Carolina Tar Heels – Game summary
1 2 34Total
#1 Tigers 7 14 141045
#8 Tar Heels 9 7 71437

at Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC

CFP Playoff

Orange Bowl- CFP Semifinal Game

#4 Oklahoma Sooners vs #1 Clemson Tigers - Game summary
1 2 34Total
#4 Sooners 7 10 0017
#1 Tigers 3 13 14737

at Sun Life Stadium • Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: December 31, 2015
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Outdoors
  • Game attendance: 67,615
  • Referee: Mike Cannon (Big Ten)
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Brad Nessler (Play-by-Play), Todd Blackledge (Analyst), Holly Rowe (Sideline)
  • Sources:

CFP Championship Game

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide vs #1 Clemson Tigers - Game summary
1 2 34Total
#2 Alabama 7 7 72445
#1 Clemson 14 0 101640

at University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZ

  • Date: January 11, 2016
  • Game time: 6:33 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors
  • Game attendance: 75,765
  • Referee: Terry Leyden (Pac-12)
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Heather Cox & Tom Rinaldi (sideline)
  • Sources:

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP 12 12 11 11 12 6 5 (1) 6 (1) 3 (6) 3 (6) 1 (31) 1 (34) 1 (55) 1 (53) 1 (51) 2 
Coaches 12 12 9 10 11 6 6 6 6 (1) 5 (2) 2 (21) 1 (28) 1 (58) 1 (53) 1 (55) 2 
CFP Not released 1 1 1 1 1 1 Not released

2016 NFL Draft

The Tigers had nine players drafted in the 2016 NFL draft. Shaq Lawson was picked first at 19th overall. Nine draftees is the most for Clemson since the 1983 NFL draft. It also gave the Tigers the second highest number of draftees in the 2016 NFL draft, second only to Ohio State with 12 players selected.[3]

Player Team Round Pick # Position
Shaq Lawson Buffalo Bills 1st 19th DE
Kevin Dodd Tennessee Titans 2nd 33rd DE
Mackensie Alexander Minnesota Vikings 2nd 54th DB
TJ Green Indianapolis Colts 2nd 57th S
BJ Goodson New York Giants 4th 109th LB
DJ Reader Houston Texans 5th 166th DT
Charone Peake New York Jets 7th 241st WR
Jayron Kearse Minnesota Vikings 7th 244th S
Zac Brooks Seattle Seahawks 7th 247th RB

Awards and honors

National Coach of the Year Awards

Broyles Award Finalist

Archie Griffin Award

Davey O'Brien Award

Manning Award

Heisman Trophy Finalist

All-Americans

‡ - Consensus All-Americans

ACC Coach of the Year

ACC Player of the Year

ACC Offensive Player of the Year

All-ACC:

References

  1. ↑ "2015 Schedule Announced" (Press release). Clemson University Department of Athletics. January 29, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ "2015 Clemson Tigers Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Clemson second in nation in NFL draft choices". tigernet.com. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
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