# 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.

## 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. 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 StadiumClemson, SC | ACCN | W 49–10 | 81,345 |
| September 12 | 12:30 p.m. | Appalachian State* | No. 12 | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC | ESPN3 | W 41–10 | 81,467 |
| September 17 | 7:30 p.m. | at Louisville | No. 11 | Papa John's Cardinal StadiumLouisville, KY | ESPN | W 20–17 | 55,396 |
| October 3 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 6 Notre Dame* | No. 12 | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (College GameDay) | ABC | W 24–22 | 82,415 |
| October 10 | 3:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech | No. 6 | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (rivalry) | ABC/ESPN2 | W 43–24 | 80,983 |
| October 17 | 7:00 p.m. | Boston College | No. 5 | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy) | ESPNU | W 34–17 | 81,416 |
| October 24 | Noon | at Miami (FL) | No. 6 | Sun Life StadiumMiami Gardens, FL | ABC | W 58–0 | 45,211 |
| October 31 | 3:30 p.m. | at NC State | No. 3 | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC (Textile Bowl) | ABC/ESPN2 | W 56–41 | 57,600 |
| November 7 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 16 Florida State | No. 1 | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (rivalry) | ABC | W 23–13 | 83,099 |
| November 14 | 3:30 p.m. | at Syracuse | No. 1 | Carrier DomeSyracuse, NY | ABC/ESPN2 | W 37–27 | 36,736 |
| November 21 | 3:30 p.m. | Wake Forest | No. 1 | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC | ESPN2 | W 33–13 | 81,577 |
| November 28 | Noon | at South Carolina* | No. 1 | Williams-Brice StadiumColumbia, SC (Palmetto Bowl) | ESPN | W 37–32 | 81,409 |
| December 5 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 10 North Carolina | No. 1 | Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC (ACC Championship Game) | ABC | W 45–37 | 74,514 |
| December 31 | 4:00 p.m. | vs. No. 4 Oklahoma* | No. 1 | Sun Life StadiumMiami 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 StadiumGlendale, AZ (CFP National Championship / rivalry / SEC Nation) | ESPN | L 40–45 | 75,765 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 3 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||
    Schedule source:

## Roster
### Recruiting class

College recruiting information (2015) :
| 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) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Deon Cain WR | Tampa, Florida | Tampa Bay Tech | 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Christian Wilkins DT | Suffield, Connecticut | Suffield Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Ray-Ray McCloud ATH | Tampa, Florida | Sickles High School | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Albert Huggins DT | Orangeburg, South Carolina | Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 283 lb (128 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Mark Fields CB | Cornelius, North Carolina | William Amos Hough | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jake Fruhmorgen OL | Tampa, Florida | Plant H.S. | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | - |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Clelin Ferrell DE | Richmond, Virginia | Benedictine H.S. | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Garrett Williams TE | Orlando, Florida | The First Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Austin Bryant DE | Thomasville, Georgia | Thomas County Central | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Chad Smith LB | Sterling, Virginia | Dominion | 6 ft 3.5 in (1.92 m) | 213 lb (97 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Van Smith ATH | Cornelius, North Carolina | William Amos Hough | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Sterling Johnson DT | Clayton, North Carolina | Cleveland H.S. | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 281 lb (127 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Noah Green OT | Boiling Springs, South Carolina | Boiling Springs H.S. | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kelly Bryant QB | Piedmont, South Carolina | Wren H.S. | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kaleb Chalmers CB | Greenwood, South Carolina | Greenwood H.S. | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 171 lb (78 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Shadell Bell WR | Decatur, Georgia | Columbia H.S. | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Zach Giella OT | Augusta, Georgia | Augusta Christian H.S. | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Tanner Muse S | Belmont, North Carolina | South Point | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 207 lb (94 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Tucker Israel QB | Orlando, Florida | Lake Nona High School | 6 ft 0.5 in (1.84 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Gage Cervenka DT | Greenwood, South Carolina | Emerald High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| LaSamuel Davis DE | Bamberg, South Carolina | Bamberg Ehrhardt | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Denzel Johnson S | Columbia, South Carolina | AC Flora | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Amir Trapp CB | Central, South Carolina | D.W. Daniel H.S. | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| 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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Notre Dame | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 22 |
| Clemson | 14 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
* Date: October 3
* Game time: 8:15 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Rain; 64 °F (18 °C); wind 12 mph (19 km/h) ENE
* Game attendance: 82,415
* Referee: Jeff Heaser
* TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit
* Automated Scorebook
Game information :
Notre Dame
DeShone Kizer 19/34, 321 Yds, 2 TD, INT 14 Rush, 55 Yds, TD
C.J. Prosise 4 Rec, 100 Yds, TD
Clemson
Deshaun Watson 10/21, 84 Yds, 2 TD, INT
Wayne Gallman 23 Rush, 111 Yds
Artavis Scott 5 Rec, 43 Yds, TD :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | ND | CLEM |
| 1 | 12:19 | 7 | 64 | 2:46 | Clemson | Leggett 6-yard touchdown reception from Watson, Huegel kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 1 | 8:43 | 4 | 40 | 1:45 | Clemson | Scott 13-yard touchdown reception from Watson, Huegel kick good | 0 | 14 |
| 1 | 5:32 | 9 | 22 | 3:09 | Notre Dame | 46-yard field goal by Yoon | 3 | 14 |
| 3 | 14:14 | 3 | 29 | 0:38 | Clemson | Watson 21-yard touchdown run, Huegel kick good | 3 | 21 |
| 4 | 14:13 | 4 | 80 | 1:54 | Notre Dame | Prosise 56-yard touchdown reception from Kizer, 2-point pass failed | 9 | 21 |
| 4 | 10:56 | 6 | 50 | 3:15 | Clemson | 35-yard field goal by Huegel | 9 | 24 |
| 4 | 9:03 | 4 | 64 | 1:58 | Notre Dame | Kizer 3-yard touchdown run, Yoon kick good | 16 | 24 |
| 4 | 0:07 | 6 | 32 | 0:59 | Notre Dame | Hunter Jr. 1-yard touchdown reception from Kizer, 2-point run failed | 22 | 24 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 22 | 24 |

### 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

| Quarter | 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:

## CFP Playoff
### Orange Bowl- CFP Semifinal Game

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #4 Sooners | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| #1 Tigers | 3 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 37 |
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

| Quarter | 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 ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | 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 | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 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.
| 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