2015 Clemson Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 football 2015 Clemson Tigers Clemson Tigers logo.svg 125 Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division ACC 2 2 14–1 8–0 Dabo Swinney 7th full, 8th overall Tony Elliott 1st Jeff Scott 1st Spread Brent Venables 4th Travis Blanks B. J. Goodson Eric MacLain Charone Peake D. J. Reader Stanton Seckinger 4–3 Memorial Stadium ACC championACC Atlantic Division championOrange Bowl champion ACC Championship W Won 45–37 vs. North Carolina Orange Bowl (CFP Semifinal), W Won 37–17 vs. Oklahoma CFP National Championship, L Lost 40–45 vs. Alabama 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. 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.2015 Schedule Announced http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=657769&SPID=103701&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=209868188 Clemson University Department of Athletics January 29, 2015 April 13, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150204224315/http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=657769&SPID=103701&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=209868188 February 4, 2015 dead 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. 2015 AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 3 released prior to game Eastern September 5 12:30 p.m. w y 12 Wofford Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC ACCN 49–10 81,345 September 12 12:30 p.m. w y 12 Appalachian State Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC ESPN3 41–10 81,467 September 17 Thursday 7:30 p.m. w y 11 Louisville Papa John's Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY ESPN 20–17 55,396 October 3 8:00 p.m. w y 12 Notre Dame 6 College GameDay Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC ABC 24–22 82,415 October 10 3:30 p.m. w 6 Georgia Tech rivalry Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC ABC/ESPN2 43–24 80,983 October 17 7:00 p.m. w y 5 Boston College O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC ESPNU 34–17 81,416 October 24 Noon w y 6 Miami (FL) Sun Life Stadium Miami Gardens, FL ABC 58–0 45,211 October 31 3:30 p.m. w y 3 NC State Textile Bowl Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC ABC/ESPN2 56–41 57,600 November 7 3:30 p.m. w 1 Florida State 16 rivalry Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC ABC 23–13 83,099 November 14 3:30 p.m. w y 1 Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY ABC/ESPN2 37–27 36,736 November 21 3:30 p.m. w 1 Wake Forest Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC ESPN2 33–13 81,577 November 28 Noon w y y 1 South Carolina Palmetto Bowl Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC ESPN 37–32 81,409 December 5 8:00 p.m. w y 1 North Carolina 10 ACC Championship Game Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC ABC 45–37 74,514 December 31 4:00 p.m. w y y 1 Oklahoma 4 Orange Bowl–CFP Semifinal Sun Life Stadium Miami Gardens, FL ESPN 37–17 67,615 January 11, 2016 8:30 p.m. l y y 1 Alabama 2 CFP National Championship / rivalry / SEC Nation University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, AZ ESPN 40–45 75,765 Schedule source:2015 Clemson Tigers Football Schedule http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-15/acc/2015-clemson-tigers-football-schedule.php FB Schedules April 13, 2015 Roster 2015 Clemson Tigers y 1 WR FR y n Trevion Thompson 2 QB FR y Kelly Bryant Kelly Bryant (American football) 3 WR SO y Artavis Scott 4 QB SO y Deshaun Watson 5 WR JR y n Germone Hopper 7 WR JR y Mike Williams Mike Williams (wide receiver, born 1994) y 8 WR FR y Deon Cain 9 RB SO y y Wayne Gallman 10 QB FR n Tucker Israel 11 WR FR n Shadell Bell 12 QB JR y n Nick Schuessler 13 WR P FR y y Hunter Renfrow 16 TE JR y Jordan Leggett 18 QB FR n James Barnes 19 WR SR y y Charone Peake 21 RB SR y n C. J. Davidson 22 RB SO y n Tyshon Dye 24 RB SR y Zac Brooks 26 RB SO y Adam Choice 27 RB FR y n C. J. Fuller 34 WR FR y Ray-Ray McCloud 38 RB SR y n Brennan Goodnature 39 WR SR y n Jordan Bianchi 44 TE FR n Garrett Williams 50 OL FR y n Justin Falcinelli 51 OL FR y y Taylor Hearn Taylor Hearn (American football) 54 OL SO y n Zach Riggs 55 OG SO y n Tyrone Crowder 57 OL JR y n Jay Guillermo 58 OL SR y n Ryan Norton 61 OT SR n William Cockerill 63 OT FR n Jake Fruhmorgen 64 OL FR n Pat Godfrey 65 OT SR n Daniel Stone 69 OG SO y n Maverick Morris 70 OG FR n Seth Penner 71 OL FR n Noah Green 72 OL FR n Logan Tisch 73 OL SR y n Joe Gore 75 OT FR y Mitch Hyatt 77 C FR n Zach Geilla 78 OG SR y n Eric Mac Lain 79 OL SR y n Harrison Tucker 80 TE FR y n Milan Richard 81 TE SR y n Stanton Seckinger 82 WR SO y n Adrien Dunn 83 TE FR n Jesse Fisher 84 TE FR y n Cannon Smith 85 WR SO y y Seth Ryan 86 WR FR n Ty Thomason 87 TE SO y n D. J. Greenlee 88 WR JR n Sean Mac Lane 89 TE JR y n Jay Jay McCullough 1 S JR y Jayron Kearse 2 CB SO y y Mackensie Alexander 6 LB SO y y Dorian O'Daniel 10 LB JR y Ben Boulware 11 LB JR y n Travis Blanks 12 S JR n Korrin Wiggins y 14 CB FR n Denzel Johnson 15 S JR y T. J. Green 17 S FR y n Jefferie Gibson 18 S JR n Jadar Johnson 19 S FR y Tanner Muse 20 CB FR n Kaleb Chalmers 21 CB SO y n Adrian Baker 23 S FR y Van Smith Van Smith (American football) 24 CB FR y Mark Fields Mark Fields (cornerback) 25 CB JR y Cordrea Tankersley 29 CB SO y n Marcus Edmond 30 LB FR n Jalen Williams 31 CB SO y n Ryan Carter 32 S FR n Kyle Cote 33 LB FR n J. D. Davis 34 LB FR y n Kendall Joseph 35 LB SR n Quentin Hall 37 LB FR n Judah Davis 37 S FR y n Cameron Scott 38 CB FR n Amir Trapp 40 DE SO y n Jaquarius Brice 40 DT SR y n Roderick Byers 41 LB JR y n T. J. Burrell 42 DT FR y Christian Wilkins 43 LB FR n Chad Smith 44 LB SR y y B. J. Goodson 45 DE FR y n Chris Register 46 LB FR y n Jarvis Magwood 48 DT SR y D. J. Reader 49 S SR y n Beau Brown 49 DE FR y n Richard Yeargin 50 DT FR y n Jabril Robinson 52 LB SO y n Connor Prevost 53 LB JR y n Martin Aiken 56 DT SO y n Scott Pagano 59 DE SR y n Collins Mauldin 60 DE SO y n Kelby Bevelle 62 DE SO y n Kaleb Bevelle 67 DT FR y Albert Huggins 85 DE SO y n Dane Rogers 90 DE JR y Shaq Lawson 91 DE FR y Austin Bryant 93 DE FR n Sterling Johnson 94 DT JR y y Carlos Watkins 95 DT FR n Gage Cervenka 98 DE JR y Kevin Dodd 99 DE FR y Clelin Ferrell 32 P JR y n Andy Teasdall 36 K P SR y n Ammon Lakip 39 K P FR y n Christian Groomes 47 K SO n Alex Spence 52 LS FR n Austin Spence 59 LS SO y n Bradley Tatko 61 LS JR y n David Estes 76 LS SR y n Jim Brown 92 K FR y y Greg Huegel 96 P FR n Michael Batson http://www.clemsontigers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28500&SPID=103701&SPSID=657772&DB_OEM_ID=28500 November 22, 2015 Dabo Swinney (8th season) 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 Zac Alley– Graduate Assistant Recruiting class no yes 2015 Mitch Hyatt OT Suwanee, Georgia North Gwinnett H.S. 6 5 272 — 5 5 5 5 Deon Cain WR Tampa, Florida Tampa Bay Tech 6 1.5 194 — 4 5 5 4 Christian Wilkins DT Suffield, Connecticut Suffield Academy 6 4 290 — 4 5 5 4 Ray-Ray McCloud ATH Tampa, Florida Sickles High School 5 9 175 4 5 4 4 Albert Huggins DT Orangeburg, South Carolina Orangeburg-Wilkinson 6 3 283 — 4 4 4 4 Mark Fields CB Cornelius, North Carolina William Amos Hough 5 11 190 — 4 4 4 4 Jake Fruhmorgen OL Tampa, Florida Plant H.S. 6 5 280 - 4 4 4 4 Clelin Ferrell DE Richmond, Virginia Benedictine H.S. 6 5 225 — 4 4 4 4 Garrett Williams TE Orlando, Florida The First Academy 6 4 220 — 4 4 4 4 Austin Bryant DE Thomasville, Georgia Thomas County Central 6 5 250 — 4 4 4 4 Chad Smith LB Sterling, Virginia Dominion 6 3.5 213 — 3 4 4 4 Van Smith ATH Cornelius, North Carolina William Amos Hough 5 11 180 — 4 3 4 4 Sterling Johnson DT Clayton, North Carolina Cleveland H.S. 6 5 281 — 3 3 3 4 Noah Green OT Boiling Springs, South Carolina Boiling Springs H.S. 6 5 275 — 3 3 3 4 Kelly Bryant QB Piedmont, South Carolina Wren H.S. 6 4 205 — 3 4 3 4 Kaleb Chalmers CB Greenwood, South Carolina Greenwood H.S. 5 11 171 — 3 3 3 3 Shadell Bell WR Decatur, Georgia Columbia H.S. 6 3 190 — 3 3 3 3 Zach Giella OT Augusta, Georgia Augusta Christian H.S. 6 6 300 — 3 3 3 4 Tanner Muse S Belmont, North Carolina South Point 6 3 207 — 3 3 3 3 Tucker Israel QB Orlando, Florida Lake Nona High School 6 0.5 200 — 3 3 3 3 Gage Cervenka DT Greenwood, South Carolina Emerald High School 6 1 275 — 3 3 3 4 LaSamuel Davis DE Bamberg, South Carolina Bamberg Ehrhardt 6 3 194 — 3 3 3 4 Denzel Johnson S Columbia, South Carolina AC Flora 6 2 187 — 3 2 3 3 Amir Trapp CB Central, South Carolina D.W. Daniel H.S. 5 8 160 — 2 2 3 3 yes 2015 Clemson Football Commitments 2015 Clemson Football Commits ESPN 15 4 9 7 February 6, 2016 Game summaries Wofford Terriers 0 7 3 0 #12 Tigers 14 21 7 7 2015 Wofford Terriers football team Appalachian State Mountaineers 0 0 3 7 #12 Tigers 3 28 7 3 2015 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team Louisville #11 Tigers 0 7 10 3 Cardinals 0 3 7 7 2015 Louisville Cardinals football team Notre Dame 2015 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team text-align:center collapsed #6 Notre Dame (4–0) at #11 Clemson (3–0) October 3 8:15 p.m. EST Notre Dame 3 0 0 19 Clemson 14 0 7 3 Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina 82,415 Rain; 64 F; wind 12 mph on ENE Jeff Heaser ABC Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit Automated Scorebook Notre Dame DeShone Kizer19/34, 321 Yds, 2 TD, INT14 Rush, 55 Yds, TD C.J. Prosise4 Rec, 100 Yds, TD Clemson Deshaun Watson10/21, 84 Yds, 2 TD, INT Wayne Gallman23 Rush, 111 Yds Artavis Scott5 Rec, 43 Yds, TD ND CLEM collapsed 1 12:19 Clemson 7 64 2:46 RecTD Leggett Watson 6 good Huegel run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 8:43 Clemson 4 40 1:45 RecTD Scott Watson 13 good Huegel run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 14 1 5:32 Notre Dame 9 22 3:09 FG 46 Yoon 3 14 3 14:14 Clemson 3 29 0:38 RushTD Watson 21 good Huegel run/pass good/failed/incomplete 3 21 4 14:13 Notre Dame 4 80 1:54 RecTD Prosise Kizer 56 pass failed 9 21 4 10:56 Clemson 6 50 3:15 FG 35 Huegel 9 24 4 9:03 Notre Dame 4 64 1:58 RushTD Kizer 3 good Yoon run/pass good/failed/incomplete 16 24 4 0:07 Notre Dame 6 32 0:59 RecTD Hunter Jr. Kizer 1 run failed 22 24 22 24 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 3 7 7 7 #6 Tigers 19 14 7 3 2015 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team Clemson–Georgia Tech football rivalry Boston College Eagles 7 3 0 7 #5 Tigers 10 7 10 7 2015 Boston College Eagles football team O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy Miami (FL) #6 Tigers 21 21 3 13 Hurricanes 0 0 0 0 2015 Miami Hurricanes football team NC State #3 Tigers 16 10 21 9 Wolfpack 13 7 7 14 2015 NC State Wolfpack football team Textile Bowl Florida State #16 Seminoles 7 3 3 0 #1 Tigers 3 3 7 10 2015 Florida State Seminoles football team Clemson–Florida State football rivalry Syracuse #1 Tigers 21 10 0 6 Orange 14 3 7 3 2015 Syracuse Orange football team Wake Forest Demon Deacons 0 7 0 6 #1 Tigers 20 10 3 0 2015 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team South Carolina #1 Tigers 0 14 14 9 Gamecocks 0 3 14 15 2015 South Carolina Gamecocks football team Clemson–South Carolina rivalry ACC Championship Game 2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football team 2015 ACC Championship Game Clemson Tigers ;text-align:center; autocollapse #1 Clemson Tigers vs #8 North Carolina Tar Heels – Game summary December 5, 2015 8:00 p.m. #1 Tigers 7 14 14 10 #8 Tar Heels 9 7 7 14 Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC ABC Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Heather Cox (sideline) Sources: CFP Playoff Orange Bowl- CFP Semifinal Game 2015 Oklahoma Sooners football team 2015 Orange Bowl Clemson Tigers ;text-align:center; autocollapse #4 Oklahoma Sooners vs #1 Clemson Tigers - Game summary December 31, 2015 4:00 p.m. #4 Sooners 7 10 0 0 #1 Tigers 3 13 14 7 Sun Life Stadium • Miami Gardens, Florida 67,615 Outdoors Mike Cannon (Big Ten) ESPN Brad Nessler (Play-by-Play), Todd Blackledge (Analyst), Holly Rowe (Sideline) Sources: CFP Championship Game 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide football team 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Clemson Tigers ;text-align:center; autocollapse #2 Alabama Crimson Tide vs #1 Clemson Tigers - Game summary January 11, 2016 6:33 p.m. #2 Alabama 7 7 7 24 #1 Clemson 14 0 10 16 University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZ 75,765 Indoors Terry Leyden (Pac-12) ESPN Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Heather Cox & Tom Rinaldi (sideline) Sources: Rankings 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings 15 9 12 12 12 12 11 9 11 10 12 11 6 6 5 (1) 6 6 (1) 6 3 (6) 6 (1) 3 (6) 5 (2) 1 1 (31) 2 (21) 1 1 (34) 1 (28) 1 1 (55) 1 (58) 1 1 (53) 1 (53) 1 1 (51) 1 (55) 1 2 2 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.http://www.tigernet.com/update/player/Clemson-nation-NFL-draft-choices-23027 Clemson second in nation in NFL draft choices tigernet.com March 17, 2016 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 T. J. Green Indianapolis Colts 2nd 57th S B. J. Goodson New York Giants 4th 109th LB D. J. 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 Dabo Swinney: AFCA, AP, CBS Sports, Home Depot, Maxwell Foundation, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Phil Steele, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Walter Camp 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 Clemson Category:Clemson Tigers football seasons Category:Atlantic Coast Conference football champion seasons Category:Orange Bowl champion seasons Clemson Clemson Tigers football