# 2010 Clemson Tigers football team

The 2010 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his second full year and third year overall after taking over the job midway through the 2008 season. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Atlantic Division. They finished the season 6–7, 4–4 in ACC play and were invited to the Meineke Car Care Bowl where they were defeated by South Florida, 31–26. As of 2021, this is the only losing season for the Tigers under coach Dabo Swinney's tenure.

## Before the season
### Departures

* Jamie Cumbie (DT, RS Junior) – Dismissed for violation of team rules (assault charges)
* J.K. Jay (OL, Freshman) – Back injuries; will remain at Clemson as a student coach
* Willy Korn (QB, RS Sophomore) – Graduated; transferred to Marshall University then to North Greenville University
* Billy Napier (Offensive Coordinator) – Fired on January 2, 2011
* Andre Powell (Running Backs/Special Teams Coach) – Fired on January 2, 2011

### Recruiting class

College recruiting information (2010) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Martavis Bryant WR | Anderson, South Carolina | T. L. Hanna | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | - |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| DeAndre Hopkins WR | Central, South Carolina | D. W. Daniel | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Josh Watson DT | Chatham, Virginia | Hargrave Military Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Garry Peters CB | Conyers, Georgia | Heritage | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Darius Robinson CB | Atlanta, Georgia | Westlake | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Justin Parker LB | Ladys Island, South Carolina | Beaufort H.S. | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Bashaud Breeland S | Fairfax, South Carolina | Allendale Fairfax H.S. | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | - |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| David Beasley OG | Columbus, Georgia | Carver H.S. | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Tavaris Barnes DE | Jacksonville, Florida | First Coast H.S. | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Vic Beasley TE | Adairsville, Georgia | Adairsville H.S. | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Desmond Brown S | Centre, Alabama | Cherokee Co Sch | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Reid Webster OL | Woodstock, Georgia | Etowa H.S. | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Joe Craig ATH | Gaffney, South Carolina | Gaffney H.S. | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| DJ Howard RB | Lincoln, Alabama | Lincoln H.S. | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Demont Buice RB | Gadsden, Alabama | Gadsden H.S. | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jake Nicolopulos LB | Anderson, South Carolina | T. L. Hanna | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Ricky Chaney S | Beaufort, South Carolina | Battery Creek | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Martin Jenkins DB | Roswell, Georgia | Rosswell H.S. | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Tra Thomas DT | Wadesboro, North Carolina | Anson H.S. | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kalon Davis OG | Chester, South Carolina | Chester H.S. | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 345 lb (156 kg) | — |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 14 Rivals: 20 247Sports: 28 ESPN: 19 |||||||
| ‡ 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: "2010 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 6, 2016. |||||||

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 3:30 p.m. | North Texas* | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (Hall of Fame Day) | ESPNU Pam Ward, Danny Kanell | W 35–10 | 77,342 |
| September 11 | 3:30 p.m. | Presbyterian* | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (Family/Youth Day) | ESPN3 Trey Bender, Jeremy Bloom | W 58–21 | 74,358 |
| September 18 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 16 Auburn* | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL (rivalry, College GameDay) | ESPN/ESPN 3D Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, Erin Andrews/Joe Tessitore, Tim Brown, Tom Luginbill | L 24–27 $^{OT}$ | 87,451 |
| October 2 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 16 Miami (FL) | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC | ESPN2/ESPN 3D Dave Pasch, Bob Griese, Chris Spielman/Dave LaMont, Tim Brown, Ray Bentley | L 21–30 | 82,313 |
| October 9 | 3:30 p.m. | at North Carolina | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ABC/ESPN Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard, Mike Bellotti | L 16–21 | 60,000 |
| October 16 | 12:00 p.m. | Maryland | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (Football Reunion Day) | ACCN Steve Martin, Dave Archer, Mike Hogewood | W 31–7 | 72,484 |
| October 23 | 3:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (rivalry, IPTAY Day) | ABC/ESPN Mike Patrick, Craig James | W 27–13 | 78,522 |
| October 30 | 12:00 p.m. | at Boston College | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA (O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy) | ACCN Tim Brant, Dave Archer, Mike Hogewood | L 10–16 | 37,137 |
| November 6 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 25 NC State | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (Textile Bowl, Military Appreciation Day) | ACCN Tim Brant, Dave Archer, Mike Hogewood | W 14–13 | 75,906 |
| November 13 | 8:00 p.m. | at Florida State | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL (rivalry) | ABC Mike Patrick, Craig James, Jeannine Edwards | L 13–16 | 72,228 |
| November 20 | 2:00 p.m. | at Wake Forest | BB&T FieldWinston-Salem, NC | ESPN3 Ryan Rose, John Gregory | W 30–10 | 31,783 |
| November 27 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 17 South Carolina* | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (rivalry) | ESPN2 Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard, Mike Bellotti | L 7–29 | 81,355 |
| December 31 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. South Florida* | Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC (Meineke Car Care Bowl) | ESPN/ISP Sports Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard, Mike Bellotti, Shannon Spake/Adam Witten, Sonny Randle | L 26–31 | 41,122 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### vs No. 18 South Carolina (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 18 South Carolina | 9 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 29 |
| Clemson | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Memorial Stadium • Clemson, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, November 27, 2010
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather: Clear
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard, Mike Bellotti
| Statistics | SC | CLEM |
| First downs | 14 | 13 |
| Total yards | 66–322 | 62–251 |
| Rushing yards | 36–95 | 27–61 |
| Passing yards | 227 | 212 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–30–0 | 17–35–1 |
| Time of possession | 21:11 | 15:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Carolina | Passing | Stephen Garcia | 14/30, 227 yards, 2 TD |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Marcus Lattimore | 23 carries, 48 yards |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Alshon Jeffery | 5 receptions, 141 yards, TD |
| Clemson | Passing | Kyle Parker | 7/17, 117 yards, TD, INT |
| Clemson | Rushing | Jamie Harper | 16 carries, 58 yards |
| Clemson | Receiving | DeAndre Hopkins | 7 receptions, 124 yards, TD |

## Draft picks

The Tigers had six players selected in the 2011 NFL draft.
| Player | Team | Round | Pick # | Position |
| Jarvis Jenkins | Washington Redskins | 2nd | 41 | DE |
| Marcus Gilchrist | San Diego Chargers | 2nd | 50th | CB |
| Da'Quan Bowers | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2nd | 51 | DE |
| Chris Hairston | Buffalo Bills | 4th | 122 | OT |
| Jamie Harper | Tennessee Titans | 4th | 130th | RB |
| Byron Maxwell | Seattle Seahawks | 6th | 173th | CB |