2015 Clemson Tigers football team

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. Despite the success of the season, and entering the championship game with an undefeated record (14–0), they lost to the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (13–1) in the national championship, 45–40. Both Clemson and Alabama finished the season 14–1.

2015 Clemson Tigers football
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
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionAtlantic Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 2
Record14–1 (8–0 ACC)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorTony Elliott (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinatorJeff Scott (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBrent Venables (4th season)
Base defense4–3
CaptainTravis Blanks
B. J. Goodson
Eric MacLain
Charone Peake
D. J. Reader
Stanton Seckinger
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
(Capacity: 81,500)
2015 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
ConfOverall
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 (FL)  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
Rankings from AP Poll

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.

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 512:30 p.m.Wofford*No. 12ACCNW 49–1081,345
September 1212:30 p.m.Appalachian State*No. 12
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
ESPN3W 41–1081,467
September 177:30 p.m.at LouisvilleNo. 11ESPNW 20–1755,396
October 38:00 p.m.No. 6 Notre Dame*No. 12
ABCW 24–2282,415
October 103:30 p.m.Georgia TechNo. 6
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC (rivalry)
ABC/ESPN2W 43–2480,983
October 177:00 p.m.Boston CollegedaggerNo. 5
ESPNUW 34–1781,416
October 24Noonat Miami (FL)No. 6ABCW 58–045,211
October 313:30 p.m.at NC StateNo. 3ABC/ESPN2W 56–4157,600
November 73:30 p.m.No. 16 Florida StateNo. 1
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC (rivalry)
ABCW 23–1383,099
November 143:30 p.m.at SyracuseNo. 1ABC/ESPN2W 37–2736,736
November 213:30 p.m.Wake ForestNo. 1
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
ESPN2W 33–1381,577
November 28Noonat South Carolina*No. 1ESPNW 37–3281,409
December 58:00 p.m.vs. No. 10 North CarolinaNo. 1ABCW 45–3774,514
December 314:00 p.m.vs. No. 4 Oklahoma*No. 1
ESPNW 37–1767,615
January 11, 20168:30 p.m.vs. No. 2 Alabama*No. 1ESPNL 40–4575,765
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 Injured 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
G 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
G 69 Maverick Morris  So
G 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
G 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 Injured 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

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: November 22, 2015

Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2015 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Mitch Hyatt
OT
Suwanee, Georgia North Gwinnett H.S. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 272 lb (123 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars
Deon Cain
WR
Tampa, Florida Tampa Bay Tech 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m) 194 lb (88 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Christian Wilkins
DT
Suffield, Connecticut Suffield Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 290 lb (130 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Ray-Ray McCloud
ATH
Tampa, Florida Sickles High School 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Albert Huggins
DT
Orangeburg, South Carolina Orangeburg-Wilkinson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 283 lb (128 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Mark Fields
CB
Cornelius, North Carolina William Amos Hough 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 190 lb (86 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Jake Fruhmorgen
OL
Tampa, Florida Plant H.S. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 280 lb (130 kg) -  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Clelin Ferrell
DE
Richmond, Virginia Benedictine H.S. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Garrett Williams
TE
Orlando, Florida The First Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Austin Bryant
DE
Thomasville, Georgia Thomas County Central 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 250 lb (110 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Chad Smith
LB
Sterling, Virginia Dominion 6 ft 3.5 in (1.92 m) 213 lb (97 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Van Smith
ATH
Cornelius, North Carolina William Amos Hough 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Sterling Johnson
DT
Clayton, North Carolina Cleveland H.S. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 281 lb (127 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Noah Green
OT
Boiling Springs, South Carolina Boiling Springs H.S. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 275 lb (125 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Kelly Bryant
QB
Piedmont, South Carolina Wren H.S. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Kaleb Chalmers
CB
Greenwood, South Carolina Greenwood H.S. 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 171 lb (78 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Shadell Bell
WR
Decatur, Georgia Columbia H.S. 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Zach Giella
OT
Augusta, Georgia Augusta Christian H.S. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 300 lb (140 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Tanner Muse
S
Belmont, North Carolina South Point 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 207 lb (94 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Tucker Israel
QB
Orlando, Florida Lake Nona High School 6 ft 0.5 in (1.84 m) 200 lb (91 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Gage Cervenka
DT
Greenwood, South Carolina Emerald High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 275 lb (125 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
LaSamuel Davis
DE
Bamberg, South Carolina Bamberg Ehrhardt 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 194 lb (88 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Denzel Johnson
S
Columbia, South Carolina AC Flora 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 187 lb (85 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Amir Trapp
CB
Central, South Carolina D.W. Daniel H.S. 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 160 lb (73 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 15   Rivals: 4  247Sports: 9  ESPN: 7
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 6, 2016.

Game summaries

Wofford

1 2 3 4 Total
Terriers 0 7 3 0 10
#12 Tigers 14 21 7 7 49

Appalachian State

1 2 3 4 Total
Mountaineers 0 0 3 7 10
#12 Tigers 3 28 7 3 41

Louisville

1 2 3 4 Total
#11 Tigers 0 7 10 3 20
Cardinals 0 3 7 7 17

Notre Dame

#6 Notre Dame (4–0) at #11 Clemson (3–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 3 0 01922
Clemson 14 0 7324

at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

Game information

Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total
Yellow Jackets 3 7 7 7 24
#6 Tigers 19 14 7 3 43

Boston College

1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 7 3 0 7 17
#5 Tigers 10 7 10 7 34

Miami (FL)

1 2 3 4 Total
#6 Tigers 21 21 3 13 58
Hurricanes 0 0 0 0 0

NC State

1 2 3 4 Total
#3 Tigers 16 10 21 9 56
Wolfpack 13 7 7 14 41

Florida State

1 2 3 4 Total
#16 Seminoles 7 3 3 0 13
#1 Tigers 3 3 7 10 23

Syracuse

1 2 3 4 Total
#1 Tigers 21 10 0 6 37
Orange 14 3 7 3 27

Wake Forest

1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 0 7 0 6 13
#1 Tigers 20 10 3 0 33

South Carolina

1 2 3 4 Total
#1 Tigers 0 14 14 9 37
Gamecocks 0 3 14 15 32

ACC Championship Game

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

at Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC

CFP Playoff

Orange Bowl- CFP Semifinal Game

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

at Sun Life StadiumMiami 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
Period 1 2 34Total
#2 Alabama 7 7 72445
#1 Clemson 14 0 101640

at University of Phoenix StadiumGlendale, 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.
( ) = First place votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP121211111265 (1)6 (1)3 (6)3 (6)1 (31)1 (34)1 (55)1 (53)1 (51)2
Coaches1212910116666 (1)5 (2)2 (21)1 (28)1 (58)1 (53)1 (55)2
CFPNot released111111Not 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
T. J. GreenIndianapolis Colts2nd57thS
B. J. GoodsonNew York Giants4th109thLB
D. J. ReaderHouston Texans5th166thDT
Charone PeakeNew York Jets7th241stWR
Jayron KearseMinnesota Vikings7th244thS
Zac BrooksSeattle Seahawks7th247thRB

Awards and honors

National Coach of the Year Awards

Broyles Award Finalist

Archie Griffin Award

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

ACC Player of the Year

ACC Offensive Player of the Year

  • Deshaun Watson

All-ACC:

References

  1. "2015 Schedule Announced" (Press release). Clemson University Department of Athletics. January 29, 2015. Archived from the original on February 4, 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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