The 2017 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his ninth full year and tenth overall since taking over midway through 2008 season. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium, also known as "Death Valley", and competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Clemson won the ACC for the third consecutive season by beating Miami (FL) in the ACC Championship game, 38–3. They received their third straight bid to the College Football Playoff, earning the number one seed. The Tigers fell to eventual national champion Alabama in the semifinal game played at the Sugar Bowl, 24–6.
Schedule Clemson announced their schedule for the 2017 season on January 24, 2017. The Tigers' schedule consisted of 7 home games and 5 away games. Clemson hosted conference opponents Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest, and traveled to Louisville, NC State, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech. The Tigers hosted out of conference games against Kent State, Auburn, and The Citadel, and traveled to arch rival South Carolina to close out the regular season. Clemson's out of conference opponents represented the MAC, SoCon, and SEC.
The Tigers played 10 total teams who played in the postseason in the 2016 season: 2 New Year's Six participants (Auburn and Florida State), 7 other bowl teams (Boston College, Georgia Tech, Louisville, NC State, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech), and 1 FCS playoff participant (Citadel).
Rankings
Game summaries Kent State
Auburn
At Louisville
Boston College
At Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
At Syracuse
Georgia Tech
At North Carolina State
Florida State
The Citadel
At South Carolina
vs Miami (FL) – ACC Championship Game
CFP Playoff
Alabama – Sugar Bowl
Personnel Coaching staff Head coach Dabo Swinney added one new addition to the Tigers' coaching staff in January 2017, Todd Bates who was the defensive line coach at Jacksonville State University was hired after losing Dan Brooks to retirement and Marion Hobby signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mickey Conn was promoted from defensive analyst to co-defensive back coach. Name Position CU Years Alma mater Dabo Swinney Head Coach 15th Alabama (1993) Danny Pearman Assistant Head Coach / special teams coordinator / tight ends coach 10th Clemson (1987) Brent Venables Defensive Coordinator / linebackers coach 6th Kansas State (1992) Todd Bates Defensive Line Coach 1st Alabama (2004) Jeff Scott Co-offensive Coordinator / wide receivers coach 10th Clemson (2003) Tony Elliott Co-offensive Coordinator / running backs Coach 7th Clemson (2002) Robbie Caldwell Offensive Linemen Coach 7th Furman (1977) Mike Reed Defensive backs coach 5th Boston College (1994) Brandon Streeter Recruiting coordinator / quarterbacks Coach 4th Clemson (1999) Joey Batson Director of strength and conditioning 21st Newberry College (1981) Mickey Conn Co-defensive backs coach 2nd Alabama (1995) Kyle Richardson Offensive Analyst 2nd Appalachian State (2001) Zac Alley Graduate assistant 7th Clemson (2014)
Roster 2017 Clemson Tigers FootballQuarterback 2 Kelly Bryant – junior (6'3, 222) 6 Zerrick Cooper – freshman (6'2, 219) 7 Chase Brice – freshman (6'3, 213) 10 Tucker Israel – sophomore (5'10, 180) 15 Hunter Johnson – freshman (6'4, 210) 18 James Barnes – sophomore (6'1, 175)
Running back 9 Travis Etienne Jr. – freshman (5'11, 197) 21 Darien Rencher – freshman (5'8, 195) 26 Adam Choice – junior (5'9, 210) 27 C.J. Fuller – junior (5'10, 209) 28 Tavien Feaster – sophomore (5'11, 222)
Wide receiver 1 Trevion Thompson – junior (6'2, 198) 3 Amari Rodgers – freshman (5'10, 212) 5 Tee Higgins – freshman (6'4, 197) 8 Deon Cain – junior (6'1, 192) 13 Hunter Renfrow – junior (5'11, 181) (+P) 14 Diondre Overton – sophomore (6'5, 209) 16 Will Swinney – freshman (5'9, 181) 17 Cornell Powell – sophomore (6'0, 202) 18 T.J. Chase – freshman (6'1, 185) 20 Jack Swinney – senior (5'8, 160) 34 Ray-Ray McCloud – junior (5'10, 184) 35 Ty Thomason – sophomore (5'11, 221) 37 Ryan Mac Lain – sophomore (5'8, 175) 81 Kanyon Tuttle – sophomore (5'10, 169) 82 Will Brown – freshman (5'9, 186) 83 Carter Groomes – freshman (5'8, 184) 85 Seth Ryan – senior (6'0, 175) 88 Jayson Hopper – freshman (6'1, 216)
Tight end 11 Shadell Bell – sophomore (6'1, 230) 25 J.C. Chalk – freshman (6'2, 249) 44 Garrett Williams – junior (6'3, 245) 80 Milan Richard – junior (6'3, 256) 83 Jesse Fisher – sophomore (6'4, 215) 84 Cannon Smith – junior (6'5, 269) 87 D.J. Greenlee – senior (6'1, 246)
Placekicker 39 Christian Groomes – junior (5'10, 199) (+P) 47 Alex Spence – junior (6'1, 190) 92 Greg Huegel – junior (5'11, 193) Offensive lineman 50 Justin Falcinelli – OL – junior (6'4, 304) 51 Taylor Hearn – OL – junior (6'5, 321) 55 Tyrone Crowder – OG – senior (6'2, 338) 59 Gage Cervenka – OL – sophomore (6'3, 322) 60 Kelby Bevelle – OL – senior (6'2, 275) 62 Cade Stewart – OL – freshman (6'3, 299) 64 Pat Godfrey – OL – sophomore (6'2, 285) 65 Matt Bockhorst – OG – freshman (6'5, 306) 68 Noah DeHond – OT – freshman (6'7, 303) 69 Maverick Morris – OG – senior (6'4, 298) 70 Seth Penner – OG – sophomore (6'3, 299) 71 Noah Green – OL – sophomore (6'5, 285) 72 Blake Vinson – OT – freshman (6'5, 293) 72 Logan Tisch – OL – sophomore (6'2, 290) 73 Tremayne Anchrum – OL – freshman (6'2, 288) 74 John Simpson – OL – sophomore (6'4, 311) 75 Mitch Hyatt – OT – junior (6'5, 302) 76 Sean Pollard – OL – freshman (6'5, 307) 77 Zach Giella – C – sophomore(6'5, 301) 78 Chandler Reeves – OL – freshman (6'7, 286) 79 Matthew Ryan – C – freshman (6'2, 320)
Defensive lineman 7 Austin Bryant – DE – junior (6'4, 266) 22 Xavier Kelly – DE – freshman (6'4, 264) 42 Christian Wilkins – DT – junior (6'4, 297) 44 Nyles Pinckney – DT – freshman (6'1, 298) 45 Chris Register – DE – junior (6'3, 253) 49 Richard Yeargin – DE – junior (6'5, 260) 50 Jabril Robinson – DT – junior (6'2, 273) 59 Jordan Williams – DE – freshman (6'5, 280) 61 Kaleb Bevelle – DE – senior (6'3, 271) 67 Albert Huggins – DT – junior (6'3, 299) 90 Dexter Lawrence – DT – sophomore (6'5, 337) 93 Sterling Johnson – DE – sophomore (6'4, 295) 94 Jacob Edwards – DE – freshman (6'3, 266) 95 James Edwards – DE – freshman (6'3, 262) 99 Clelin Ferrell – DE – sophomore (6'5, 265)
Punter 48 Will Spiers – freshman (6'5, 228) 96 Michael Batson – sophomore (5'10, 208) 97 Carson King – sophomore (6'0, 226) Linebacker 5 Shaq Smith – freshman (6'2, 244) 6 Dorian O'Daniel – senior (6'1, 224) 10 Baylon Spector – freshman (6'1, 224) 30 Jalen Williams – junior (5'10, 212) 33 J.D. Davis – junior (6'2, 226) 34 Kendall Joseph – junior (6'0, 229) 35 Justin Foster – LB – freshman (6'4, 255) 36 Judah Davis – junior (6'1, 238) 43 Chad Smith – sophomore (6'4, 239) 46 Jarvis Magwood – junior (5'11, 220) 47 James Skalski – sophomore (6'0, 237) 52 Connor Prevost – senior (6'0, 220) 53 Regan Upshaw – freshman (5'11, 232) 54 Logan Rudolph – freshman (6'3, 228) 56 Luke Price – freshman (6'2, 221) 57 Tre Lamar – sophomore (6'3, 250) 59 Connor Sekas – junior (6'2, 229)
Defensive back 1 Trayvon Mullen – CB – sophomore (6'2, 191) 2 Mark Fields – CB – junior (5'10, 178) 8 A. J. Terrell – CB – freshman (6'2, 188) 9 Brian Dawkins Jr. – CB – freshman (5'7, 166) 11 Isaiah Simmons – S – freshman (6'3, 223) 12 K'Von Wallace – DB – sophomore (6'0, 196) 14 Denzel Johnson – CB – sophomore (6'0, 202) 19 Tanner Muse – S – sophomore (6'2, 220) 20 LeAnthony Williams Jr. – CB – freshman (6'0, 177) 23 Van Smith – S – junior (5'11, 191) 24 Nolan Turner – S – freshman (6'1, 205) 29 Marcus Edmond – CB – senior (6'0, 183) 31 Ryan Carter – CB – senior (5'9, 184) 32 Kyle Cote – S – sophomore (5'10, 185) 37 Austin Jackson – S – sophomore (6'2, 202) 37 Cameron Scott – S – junior (5'10, 208) 38 Amir Trapp – CB – sophomore (5'8, 176) 40 Hall Morton – S – freshman (5'8, 182)
Long snappers 52 Austin Spence – sophomore (6'2, 206) 58 Patrick Phibbs – sophomore (6'2, 221) 59 Bradley Tatko – senior (6'0, 225) 71 Jack Maddox – freshman (6'4, 210)
Recruiting class
Transfers Clemson lost six players due to transfer, running back Tyshon Dye, Offensive linemen Jake Fruhmorgen, cornerback Adrian Baker, defensive tackle Scott Pagano, Safety Korrin Wiggins and Defensive end LaSamuel Davis all announced they would transfer from the program.
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown College transferred to Jake Fruhmorgen 63 OL 6'5" 290 Junior Tampa, Florida Florida Tyshon Dye 22 RB 5'11" 220 Senior Elberton, Georgia East Carolina Adrian Baker 21 CB 5'11" 180 Senior Hallandale, Florida Oklahoma State Scott Pagano 56 DT 6'3" 295 Senior Honolulu, Hawaii Oregon Korrin Wiggins 15 S 6'0" 200 Senior Durham, North Carolina East Carolina LaSamuel Davis 7 DE 6'4" 205 Freshman Bamberg, South Carolina SC State
Awards and honors
Individual awards
Broyles Award – Tony Elliot
All Americans Clelin Ferrell – AP 1st team, FWAA 2nd team Mitch Hyatt – AP 2nd team, FWAA 2nd team, Walter Camp 2nd team Christian Wilkins – AP 2nd team, Walter Camp 2nd team Dorian O'Daniel – AP 2nd team Tyrone Crowder – AP 3rd team Austin Bryant – AP 3rd team, FWAA 1st team, Walter Camp 2nd team
All-ACC Teams 1st Team
Mitch Hyatt, Tackle Justin Falcinelli, Center Tyrone Crowder, Guard Clelin Ferrell, Defensive End Christian Wilkins, Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, Defensive tackle
2nd Team
Austin Bryant, Defensive End Dorian O'Daniel, Linebacker
3rd Team
Travis Etienne, Running Back Hunter Renfrow, Wide Receiver Deon Cain, Wide Receiver Taylor Hearn, Guard Kendall Joseph, Linebacker
2018 NFL draft
Player Team Round Pick # Position Dorian O'Daniel Kansas City Chiefs 3rd 100 LB Deon Cain Indianapolis Colts 6th 185 WR Ray-Ray McCloud Buffalo Bills 6th 187 WR
Undrafted free agents
Player Team Position Ref Ryan Carter Buffalo Bills CB Marcus Edmund Los Angeles Chargers CB Van Smith Atlanta Falcons Safety Taylor Hearn Carolina Panthers Offensive line
References