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.

2010 Clemson Tigers football
Meineke Car Care Bowl, L 26–31 vs. South Florida
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Atlantic Division
Record	6–7 (4–4 ACC)
Head coach	Dabo Swinney (2nd full, 3rd overall season)
Offensive coordinator	Billy Napier (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Kevin Steele (2nd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 2009 2011 →

2010 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
No. 17 Florida State x		6	–	2					10	–	4
No. 23 Maryland		5	–	3					9	–	4
No. 25 NC State		5	–	3					9	–	4
Boston College		4	–	4					7	–	6
Clemson		4	–	4					6	–	7
Wake Forest		1	–	7					3	–	9
Coastal Division
No. 16 Virginia Tech x$		8	–	0					11	–	3
Miami (FL)		5	–	3					7	–	6
Georgia Tech		4	–	4					6	–	7
North Carolina		4	–	4					8	–	5
Duke		1	–	7					3	–	9
Virginia		1	–	7					4	–	8
Championship: Virginia Tech 44, Florida State 33
$ – BCS representative as conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Before the season

Departures

• Jamie Cumbie (DT, RS Junior) – Dismissed for violation of team rules (assault charges)^[1]
• 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	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Martavis Bryant WR	Anderson, South Carolina	T. L. Hanna	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	-
	Recruit 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)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Josh Watson DT	Chatham, Virginia	Hargrave Military Academy	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	270 lb (120 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Garry Peters CB	Conyers, Georgia	Heritage	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Darius Robinson CB	Atlanta, Georgia	Westlake	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	—
	Recruit 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)	—
	Recruit 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)	-
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
David Beasley OG	Columbus, Georgia	Carver H.S.	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	—
	Recruit 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)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Vic Beasley TE	Adairsville, Georgia	Adairsville H.S.	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Desmond Brown S	Centre, Alabama	Cherokee Co Sch	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Reid Webster OL	Woodstock, Georgia	Etowa H.S.	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	—
	Recruit 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)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
DJ Howard RB	Lincoln, Alabama	Lincoln H.S.	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Demont Buice RB	Gadsden, Alabama	Gadsden H.S.	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	—
	Recruit 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)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Ricky Chaney S	Beaufort, South Carolina	Battery Creek	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Martin Jenkins DB	Roswell, Georgia	Rosswell H.S.	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	—
	Recruit 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)	—
	Recruit 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)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruit ranking:   Scout: 14    Rivals: 20    247Sports: 28    ESPN: 19
‡ Refers to 40-yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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. Retrieved February 6, 2016.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	3:30 p.m.	North Texas*	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC (Hall of Fame Day)	ESPNU	W 35–10	77,342
September 11	3:30 p.m.	Presbyterian*	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC (Family/Youth Day)	ESPN3	W 58–21	74,358
September 18	7:00 p.m.	at No. 16 Auburn*	Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL (rivalry, College GameDay)	ESPN	L 24–27 OT	87,451
October 2	12:00 p.m.	No. 16 Miami (FL)	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	ESPN2	L 21–30	82,313
October 9	3:30 p.m.	at North Carolina	Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC	ABC/ESPN	L 16–21	60,000
October 16	12:00 p.m.	Maryland	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC (Football Reunion Day)	ACCN	W 31–7	72,484
October 23	3:30 p.m.	Georgia Tech	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC (rivalry, IPTAY Day)	ABC/ESPN	W 27–13	78,522
October 30	12:00 p.m.	at Boston College	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA (O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy)	ACCN	L 10–16	37,137
November 6	12:00 p.m.	No. 25 NC State	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC (Textile Bowl, Military Appreciation Day)	ACCN	W 14–13	75,906
November 13	8:00 p.m.	at Florida State	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)	ABC	L 13–16	72,228
November 20	2:00 p.m.	at Wake Forest	BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC	ESPN3	W 30–10	31,783
November 27	7:00 p.m.	No. 17 South Carolina*	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC (rivalry)	ESPN2	L 7–29	81,355
December 31	12:00 p.m.	vs. South Florida*	Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC (Meineke Car Care Bowl)	ESPN	L 26–31	41,122
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

vs No. 18 South Carolina (rivalry)

See also: 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

Game Twelve– No. 18 South Carolina Gamecocks (8-3) at Clemson Tigers (6-5) – Game summary

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

Game information

First quarter (13:10) CLEM – DeAndre Hopkins 45-yard pass from Kyle Parker (Chandler Catanzaro kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 74 yards, 1:50; Clemson 7-0) (9:18) SC – Spencer Lanning 46-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 48 yards, 3:52; Clemson 7-3) (5:00) SC – Patrick DiMarco 5-yard pass from Stephen Garcia (Spencer Lanning kick BLOCKED) (Drive: 1 play, 5 yards, 0:05; South Carolina 9-7) Second quarter (14:53) SC – Alshon Jeffery 37-yard pass from Stephen Garcia (Spencer Lanning kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 85 yards, 2:16; South Carolina 16-7) (8:22) SC – Spencer Lanning 25-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 72 yards, 5:29; South Carolina 19-7) Third quarter (10:17) SC – Antonio Allen 37-yard interception return (Spencer Lanning kick) (South Carolina 26-7) (1:15) SC – Spencer Lanning 37-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 20 yards, 2:49; South Carolina 29-7) Fourth quarter no scoring

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
	Rushing	Marcus Lattimore	23 carries, 48 yards
	Receiving	Alshon Jeffery	5 receptions, 141 yards, TD
Clemson	Passing	Kyle Parker	7/17, 117 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Jamie Harper	16 carries, 58 yards
	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