2015 Clemson Tigers football team

2015 Clemson Tigers football
Orange Bowl Champions ACC Champions ACC Atlantic Division Champions
ACC Championship vs. North Carolina, W 45–37
Orange Bowl (CFP Semifinal) vs. Oklahoma W 37–17 CFP National Championship vs. Alabama L 40–45
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division
Ranking
Coaches	#2
AP	#2
2015 record	14–1 (8–0 ACC)
Head coach	Dabo Swinney (7th full, 8th overall year)
Offensive coordinator	Tony L. Elliott, Jeff Scott (2nd, 2nd year)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Brent Venables (4th year)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 81,500)

2015 ACC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
#2 Clemson x$^		8	–	0					14	–	1
#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
#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) won the game, beating the No. 1 Clemson Tigers (14–0) 45–40. Both Clemson and Alabama finished the season 14–1.

Draft picks

Clemson had five players selected in the 2015 NFL draft. Vic Beasley was picked first at pick number 8.

Player	Team	Round	Pick #	Position
Vic Beasley	Atlanta Falcons	1st	8th	DE
Stephone Anthony	New Orleans Saints	1st	31st	OLB
Grady Jarrett	Atlanta Falcons	5th	137nd	DT
Bradley Pinion	San Francisco 49ers	5th	165th	P
Tony Steward	Buffalo Bills	6th	188th	OLB

Undrafted signees

Along with five draft picks 4 other Clemson Tigers made it into the NFL as undrafted rookies.

Player	Team	Position
Corey Crawford	Washington Redskins	DL
Adam Humphries	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	WR
Deshawn Williams	Cincinnati Bengals	DL
Tavaris Barnes	New Orleans Saints	DE

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*	#12	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	ACCN	W 49–10	81,345
September 12	12:30 p.m.	Appalachian State*	#12	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	ESPN3	W 41–10	81,467
September 17	7:30 p.m.	at Louisville	#11	Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY	ESPN	W 20–17	55,396
October 3	8:00 p.m.	#6 Notre Dame*	#12	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	ABC	W 24–22	82,415
October 10	3:30 p.m.	Georgia Tech	#6	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Rivalry)	ABC/ESPN2	W 43–24	80,983
October 17	7:00 p.m.	Boston College	#5	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy)	ESPNU	W 34–17	81,416
October 24	Noon	at Miami (FL)	#6	Sun Life Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL	ABC	W 58–0	45,211
October 31	3:30 p.m.	at NC State	#3	Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl)	ABC/ESPN2	W 56–41	57,600
November 7	3:30 p.m.	#16 Florida State	#1	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Rivalry)	ABC	W 23–13	83,099
November 14	3:30 p.m.	at Syracuse	#1	Carrier Dome • Syracuse, NY	ABC/ESPN2	W 37–27	36,736
November 21	3:30 p.m.	Wake Forest	#1	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	ESPN2	W 33–13	81,577
November 28	Noon	at South Carolina*	#1	Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC (Palmetto Bowl)	ESPN	W 37–32	81,409
December 5	8:00 p.m.	vs. #8 North Carolina	#1	Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC (ACC Championship Game)	ABC	W 45–37	74,514
December 31	4:00 p.m.	vs. #4 Oklahoma	#1	Sun Life Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL (Orange Bowl – CFP Semifinal)	ESPN	W 37–17	67,615
January 10	8:30 p.m.	vs. #2 Alabama	#1	University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZ (CFP National Championship)	ESPN	L 40–45	75,765
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#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 5 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 Dabo Swinney (8th season) 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

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	3	4	Total
#1 Tigers	7	14	14	10	45
#8 Tar Heels	9	7	7	14	37

at Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC

• Date: December 5, 2015
• Game time: 8:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Heather Cox (sideline)
• Sources:

Oklahoma–Orange Bowl

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

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
2–2	2014	CLEM, 37–17

CFP Championship Game

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide vs #1 Clemson Tigers - Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
#2 Alabama	7	7	7	24	45
#1 Clemson	14	0	10	16	40

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

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.