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 11, 2016 8:30 p.m. vs. No. 2 Alabama No. 1 University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZ (CFP National Championship / rivalry) 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.#NameClass
WR 1 Trevion Thompson  Fr
QB 2 Kelly Bryant Fr
WR 3 Artavis Scott So
QB 4 Deshaun Watson So
WR 5 Germone Hopper  Jr
WR 7 Mike Williams  Jr
WR 8 Deon Cain Fr
RB 9 Wayne Gallman  So
QB 10 Tucker Israel Fr
WR 11 Shadell Bell Fr
QB 12 Nick Schuessler  Jr
WR, P 13 Hunter Renfrow  Fr
TE 16 Jordan Leggett Jr
QB 18 James Barnes Fr
WR 19 Charone Peake  Sr
RB 21 C. J. Davidson  Sr
RB 22 Tyshon Dye  So
RB 24 Zac Brooks Sr
RB 26 Adam Choice So
RB 27 C. J. Fuller  Fr
WR 34 Ray-Ray McCloud Fr
RB 38 Brennan Goodnature  Sr
WR 39 Jordan Bianchi  Sr
TE 44 Garrett Williams Fr
OL 50 Justin Falcinelli  Fr
OL 51 Taylor Hearn  Fr
OL 54 Zach Riggs  So
OG 55 Tyrone Crowder  So
OL 57 Jay Guillermo  Jr
OL 58 Ryan Norton  Sr
OT 61 William Cockerill Sr
OT 63 Jake Fruhmorgen Fr
OL 64 Pat Godfrey Fr
OT 65 Daniel Stone Sr
OG 69 Maverick Morris  So
OG 70 Seth Penner Fr
OL 71 Noah Green Fr
OL 72 Logan Tisch Fr
OL 73 Joe Gore  Sr
OT 75 Mitch Hyatt Fr
C 77 Zach Geilla Fr
OG 78 Eric Mac Lain  Sr
OL 79 Harrison Tucker  Sr
TE 80 Milan Richard  Fr
TE 81 Stanton Seckinger  Sr
WR 82 Adrien Dunn  So
TE 83 Jesse Fisher Fr
TE 84 Cannon Smith  Fr
WR 85 Seth Ryan  So
WR 86 Ty Thomason Fr
TE 87 D. J. Greenlee  So
WR 88 Sean Mac Lane Jr
TE 89 Jay Jay McCullough  Jr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
S 1 Jayron Kearse Jr
CB 2 Mackensie Alexander  So
LB 6 Dorian O'Daniel  So
LB 10 Ben Boulware Jr
LB 11 Travis Blanks  Jr
S 12 Korrin Wiggins  Jr
CB 14 Denzel Johnson Fr
S 15 T. J. Green Jr
S 17 Jefferie Gibson  Fr
S 18 Jadar Johnson Jr
S 19 Tanner Muse Fr
CB 20 Kaleb Chalmers Fr
CB 21 Adrian Baker  So
S 23 Van Smith Fr
CB 24 Mark Fields Fr
CB 25 Cordrea Tankersley Jr
CB 29 Marcus Edmond  So
LB 30 Jalen Williams Fr
CB 31 Ryan Carter  So
S 32 Kyle Cote Fr
LB 33 J. D. Davis Fr
LB 34 Kendall Joseph  Fr
LB 35 Quentin Hall Sr
LB 37 Judah Davis Fr
S 37 Cameron Scott  Fr
CB 38 Amir Trapp Fr
DE 40 Jaquarius Brice  So
DT 40 Roderick Byers  Sr
LB 41 T. J. Burrell  Jr
DT 42 Christian Wilkins Fr
LB 43 Chad Smith Fr
LB 44 B. J. Goodson  Sr
DE 45 Chris Register  Fr
LB 46 Jarvis Magwood  Fr
DT 48 D. J. Reader Sr
S 49 Beau Brown  Sr
DE 49 Richard Yeargin  Fr
DT 50 Jabril Robinson  Fr
LB 52 Connor Prevost  So
LB 53 Martin Aiken  Jr
DT 56 Scott Pagano  So
DE 59 Collins Mauldin  Sr
DE 60 Kelby Bevelle  So
DE 62 Kaleb Bevelle  So
DT 67 Albert Huggins Fr
DE 85 Dane Rogers  So
DE 90 Shaq Lawson Jr
DE 91 Austin Bryant Fr
DE 93 Sterling Johnson Fr
DT 94 Carlos Watkins  Jr
DT 95 Gage Cervenka Fr
DE 98 Kevin Dodd Jr
DE 99 Clelin Ferrell Fr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P 32 Andy Teasdall  Jr
K, P 36 Ammon Lakip  Sr
K, P 39 Christian Groomes  Fr
K 47 Alex Spence So
LS 52 Austin Spence Fr
LS 59 Bradley Tatko  So
LS 61 David Estes  Jr
LS 76 Jim Brown  Sr
K 92 Greg Huegel  Fr
P 96 Michael 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]

PlayerTeamRoundPick #Position
Shaq LawsonBuffalo Bills1st19thDE
Kevin DoddTennessee Titans2nd33rdDE
Mackensie AlexanderMinnesota Vikings2nd54thDB
TJ GreenIndianapolis Colts2nd57thS
BJ GoodsonNew York Giants4th109thLB
DJ ReaderHouston Texans5th166thDT
Charone PeakeNew York Jets7th241stWR
Jayron KearseMinnesota Vikings7th244thS
Zac BrooksSeattle Seahawks7th247thRB

Awards and honors

National Coach of the Year Awards

Broyles Award Finalist

  • DC Brent Venables

Archie Griffin Award

  • DeShaun Watson

Davey O'Brien Award

  • DeShaun Watson

Manning Award

  • DeShaun Watson

Heisman Trophy Finalist

  • DeShaun Watson (3rd)

All-Americans

  • QB DeShaun Watson‡: 1st Team - AP, AFCA, Athlon, FWAA, CBS Sports, ESPN, USA Today; 2nd Team - Walter Camp, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated
  • DE Shaq Lawson‡: 1st Team - AP, AFCA, FWAA, Walter Camp, ESPN, USA Today; 2nd Team - Athlon, CBS Sports, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated
  • SS Jayron Kearse: 1st Team - ESPN; 2nd Team - AP, Athlon, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated
  • TE Jordan Leggett: 2nd Team - Walter Camp; 3rd Team - Athlon, Honorable Mention - Sports Illustrated
  • CB Mackensie Alexander: 2nd Team - Athlon; 3rd Team - AP; Honorable Mention - Sports Illustrated
  • K Greg Huegel: 2nd Team - Sports Illustrated; Freshman Team - USA Today
  • LB Ben Boulware: Honorable Mention - Sports Illustrated
  • OT Mitch Hyatt: Freshman Team - FWAA, Sporting News, USA Today
  • DT Christian Wilkins: Freshman Team - FWAA, Sporting News

‡ - Consensus All-Americans

ACC Coach of the Year

  • Dabo Swinney

ACC Player of the Year

  • DeShaun Watson

ACC Offensive Player of the Year

  • DeShaun Watson

All-ACC:

  • 1st Team: QB DeShaun Watson, WR Artavis Scott, OG Eric MacLain, DE Shaq Lawson, DT Carlos Watkins, CB Mackensie Alexander
  • 2nd Team: RB Wayne Gallman, TE Jordan Leggett, C Jay Guillermo, LB Ben Boulware, LB B.J. Goodson, S Jayron Kearse, K Greg Huegel
  • 3rd Team: OG Tyrone Crowder, OT Joe Gore, OT Mitch Hyatt, CB Cordrea Tankersley

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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.