2014 Clemson Tigers football team

The 2014 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his sixth full year and seventh overall since taking over midway through the 2008 season. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium, also known as "Death Valley." They were members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the season 10–3, 6–2 in ACC play to finish in second place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Russell Athletic Bowl where they defeated Oklahoma.

2014 Clemson Tigers football
Russell Athletic Bowl champion
Russell Athletic Bowl, W 40–6 vs. Oklahoma
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Atlantic Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 15
AP	No. 15
Record	10–3 (6–2 ACC)
Head coach	Dabo Swinney (6th full, 7th overall season)
Offensive coordinator	Chad Morris (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Brent Venables (3rd season)
Base defense	4–3
Captain	Stephone Anthony Sam Cooper Adam Humphries Grady Jarrett
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 2013 2015 →

2014 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
No. T–5 Florida State x$^		8	–	0					13	–	1
No. 15 Clemson		6	–	2					10	–	3
No. 24 Louisville		5	–	3					9	–	4
Boston College		4	–	4					7	–	6
NC State		3	–	5					8	–	5
Syracuse		1	–	7					3	–	9
Wake Forest		1	–	7					3	–	9
Coastal Division
No. 8 Georgia Tech x		6	–	2					11	–	3
Duke		5	–	3					9	–	4
North Carolina		4	–	4					6	–	7
Pittsburgh		4	–	4					6	–	7
Miami (FL)		3	–	5					6	–	7
Virginia Tech		3	–	5					7	–	6
Virginia		3	–	5					5	–	7
Championship: Florida State 37, Georgia Tech 35
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Clemson	Alma mater
Dabo Swinney	Head coach	7	Alabama (1992)
Chad Morris	Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks	3	Texas A&M (1992)
Brent Venables	Defensive coordinator/linebackers	2	Kansas State (1992)
Jeff Scott	Wide receivers/recruiting coordinator/co-offensive coordinator	5	Clemson (2002)
Tony Elliott	Running backs/co-offensive coordinator	3	Clemson (2003)
Robbie Caldwell	Offensive line	3	Furman (1976)
Dan Brooks	Defensive tackles	4	Western Carolina (1976)
Marion Hobby	Defensive running game coordinator/defensive ends	5	Tennessee (1989)
Michael Reed	Defensive backs	1	Boston College (1994)
Danny Pearman	Special teams coordinator/tight ends	5	Clemson (1995)
Zac Alley	Student assistant	4	Clemson (2014)
Reference:[1]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	5:30 p.m.	at No. 12 Georgia*	No. 16	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)	ESPN	L 21–45	92,746
September 6	12:30 p.m.	South Carolina State*	No. 23	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	ACCN	W 73–7	81,672
September 20	8:00 p.m.	at No. 1 Florida State	No. 22	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL (rivalry) (College GameDay)	ABC	L 17–23 OT	82,316
September 27	7:00 p.m.	North Carolina		Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	ESPNU	W 50–35	79,155
October 4	3:30 p.m.	NC State		Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC (Textile Bowl)	ESPNU	W 41–0	78,459
October 11	3:30 p.m.	Louisville		Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	ESPNU	W 23–17	81,500
October 18	3:30 p.m.	at Boston College	No. 24	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA (Battle for the O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy)	ESPNU	W 17–13	42,038
October 25	7:00 p.m.	Syracuse	No. 21	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	ESPNU	W 16–6	80,031
November 6	7:30 p.m.	at Wake Forest	No. 21	BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC	ESPN	W 34–20	28,846
November 15	Noon	at No. 22 Georgia Tech	No. 19	Bobby Dodd Stadium Atlanta, GA (rivalry)	ESPN	L 6–28	49,378
November 22	3:30 p.m.	Georgia State*	No. 22	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	ACCRSN	W 28–0	77,693
November 29	Noon	South Carolina*	No. 21	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC (Palmetto Bowl)	ESPN	W 35–17	82,720
December 29	5:30 p.m.	vs. Oklahoma*	No. 17	Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium Orlando, FL (Russell Athletic Bowl)	ESPN	W 40–6	40,071
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 28 released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[2]

Depth chart

Defense FS Jayron Kearse Jadar Johnson WLB MLB SLB ⋅ Stephone Anthony ⋅ Travis Blanks B.J. Goodson ⋅ SS Robert Smith (safety) T. J. Green CB Mackensie Alexander Garry Peters DE DT DT DE Corey Crawford Grady Jarrett Josh Watson Vic Beasley Tavaris Barnes Carlos Watkins D. J. Reader Shaq Lawson CB Cordrea Tankersley Martin Jenkins Offense WR Adam Humphries Artavis Scott WR Mike Williams Demarre Kitt LT LG C RG RT Isaiah Battle David Beasley Ryan Norton Kalon Davis Joe Gore Shaq Anthony Eric Mac Lain Jay Guillermo Tyrone Crowder Shaq Anthony TE Sam Cooper Jordan Leggett WR Charone Peake Kyrin Priester QB Cole Stoudt Deshaun Watson Key reserves Special teams PK Ammon Lakip P Bradley Pinion KR Charone Peake PR Adam Humphries LS Michael Sobeski H Corbin Jenkins RB DJ Howard Zac Brooks

Recruiting class

College recruiting information (2014)
Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Deshaun Watson QB	Gainesville, Georgia	Gainesville H.S.	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	-
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Artavis Scott WR	Tarpon Springs, Florida	East Lake High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Trevion Thompson WR	Durham, North Carolina	Hillside High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	188 lb (85 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Korie Rogers LB	Buford, Georgia	Buford High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	210 lb (95 kg)
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Demarre Kitt WR	Tyrone, Georgia	Sandy Creek	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Richard Yeargin III LB	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	University School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Adam Choice ATH	Thomasville, Georgia	Thomas County Central	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	206 lb (93 kg)	-
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Cannon Smith TE	Columbia, South Carolina	Hammond School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Chris Register LB	Greensboro, North Carolina	Dudley H.S.	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Kyrin Priester WR	Fork Union, Virginia	Fork Union Military Academy	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Milan Richard TE	Savannah, Georgia	Calvary Day School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	232 lb (105 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Justin Falcinelli OT	Middletown, Maryland	Middletown H.S.	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Kendall Joseph LB	Honea Path, South Carolina	Belton Honea Path H.S.	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	228 lb (103 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Jefferie Gibson S	Hope Mills, North Carolina	Gray's Creek H.S.	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Taylor Hearn OT	Williston, South Carolina	Williston Elko H.S.	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	305 lb (138 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
C. J. Fuller CB + RB	Easley, South Carolina	Easley H.S.	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Alex Spence K	Florence, South Carolina	West Florence H.S.	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Jabril Robinson DT	Leland, North Carolina	North Brunswick H.S.	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	265 lb (120 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Jalen Williams LB	Central, South Carolina	D.W. Daniel	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Jae'lon Oglesby RB	Central, South Carolina	D.W. Daniel High School	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	—
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruit ranking:   Scout: 28    Rivals: 13    247Sports: 17    ESPN: 12
‡ 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: "2014 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved February 6, 2016.

Game summaries

Georgia

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	7	14	0	0	21
Bulldogs	14	7	3	21	45

See also: 2014 Georgia Bulldogs football team and Clemson–Georgia football rivalry

South Carolina State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	7	7
Tigers	10	24	24	15	73

See also: 2014 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team

Florida State

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Tigers	0	10	0	7	0	17
Seminoles	3	0	7	7	6	23

See also: 2014 Florida State Seminoles football team and Clemson–Florida State football rivalry

North Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tar Heels	0	7	14	14	35
Tigers	10	12	14	14	50

See also: 2014 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

NC State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolfpack	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	21	10	10	0	41

See also: 2014 NC State Wolfpack football team and Textile Bowl

Louisville

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	3	7	7	0	17
Tigers	7	7	6	3	23

See also: 2014 Louisville Cardinals football team

Boston College

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	10	0	7	17
Eagles	0	7	0	6	13

See also: 2014 Boston College Eagles football team and O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy

Syracuse

	1	2	3	4	Total
Orange	3	3	0	0	6
Tigers	0	3	6	7	16

See also: 2014 Syracuse Orange football team

Wake Forest

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	17	3	14	34
Demon Deacons	7	10	0	3	20

See also: 2014 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

Georgia Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	3	0	3	0	6
Yellow Jackets	6	3	16	3	28

See also: 2014 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team and Clemson–Georgia Tech football rivalry

Georgia State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	14	14	0	0	28

See also: 2014 Georgia State Panthers football team

South Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Gamecocks	7	3	0	7	17
Tigers	7	14	7	7	35

See also: 2014 South Carolina Gamecocks football team and Clemson–South Carolina rivalry

Oklahoma (Russell Athletic Bowl)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Sooners	0	0	0	6	6
Tigers	17	10	13	0	40

See also: 2014 Oklahoma Sooners football team and 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl

Rankings

Further information: 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
AP	16	23	23	22	RV	RV	RV	24	21	22	19	18	RV	23	19	18	15
Coaches	16	24	24	24	RV	RV	25	22	20	21	19	17	RV	24	19	18	15
CFP	Not released									21	21	19	22	21	18	17	Not released

2015 NFL draft

Clemson had five players selected in the 2015 NFL draft. Vic Beasley was picked first at eighth overall.

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

In addition to five draft picks, four more 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

Awards

Preseason All-ACC Offense

Fourth Team

•Wayne Gallman – Running back

•Charone Peake – Wide receiver

Preseason All-ACC Defense

First Team

•Vic Beasley – Defensive end

•Grady Jarrett - Defensive tackle

•Stephone Anthony - Linebacker

Third Team

•Corey Crawford – Defensive end

•Jayron Kearse - Safety

Fourth Team

•Tony Steward - Linebacker

Preseason All-ACC Special Teams

Fourth Team

•Adam Humphries - Punt Returner