2012 Clemson Tigers football team

Summary

The 2012 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his fourth full year and fifth overall since taking over midway through 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. On November 10, Clemson set a school record with their 12th straight home win at Death Valley. They finished the season 11–2, 7–1 in ACC play to be Atlantic Division co–champions with Florida State. Due to their loss to Florida State, they did not represent the division the ACC Championship Game. They were invited to the Chick-fil-A Bowl where they defeated LSU. The Tigers had their first 11-win season since 1981.

2012 Clemson Tigers football
ACC Atlantic Division co-champion
Chick-fil-A Bowl champion
Chick-fil-A Bowl, W 25–24 vs. LSU
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionAtlantic Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 11
Record11–2 (7–1 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorChad Morris (2nd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBrent Venables (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinatorCharlie Harbison (5th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
2012 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Atlantic Division
No. 10 Florida State xy$   7 1     12 2  
No. 11 Clemson x   7 1     11 2  
NC State   4 4     7 6  
Wake Forest   3 5     5 7  
Maryland   2 6     4 8  
Boston College   1 7     2 10  
Coastal Division
Georgia Tech xy   5 3     7 7  
North Carolina   5 3     8 4  
Miami (FL)   5 3     7 5  
Virginia Tech   4 4     7 6  
Duke   3 5     6 7  
Virginia   2 6     4 8  
Championship: Florida State 21, Georgia Tech 15
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • † North Carolina ineligible for ACC title, championship game, and bowl game due to NCAA sanctions.[1]
    ‡ Miami ineligible for ACC title, championship game, and bowl game due to self-imposed sanctions.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

Personnel edit

2012 Clemson Tigers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB Tajh Boyd
WR Martavis Bryant
RB Andre Ellington
TE Brandon Ford
WR DeAndre Hopkins
WR Sammy Watkins
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K Chandler Catanzaro
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Coaching staff edit

Name Position Seasons at
Clemson
Alma mater
Dabo Swinney Head coach 3 Alabama (1992)
Chad Morris Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 1 Texas A&M (1992)
Brent Venables Defensive coordinator/linebackers 0 Kansas State (1992)
Tony Elliott Running Backs 1 Clemson (2003)
Jeff Scott Wide Receivers/recruiting coordinator 3 Clemson (2002)
Robbie Caldwell Offensive line 1 Furman (1976)
Dan Brooks Defensive tackles 2 Western Carolina (1976)
Marion Hobby Defensive Running game coordinator/Defensive Ends 1 Tennessee (1989)
Charlie Harbison Defensive Backs 0 Gardner–Webb (1981)
Danny Pearman Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends 3 Clemson (1995)
Zac Alley Student Assistant 2 Clemson (2014)
Reference:[2]

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 17:00 p.m.vs. No. 25 Auburn*No. 14ESPNW 26–1975,211
September 812:30 p.m.Ball State*No. 12ACCNW 52–2779,557
September 153:00 p.m.Furman*No. 11
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
RSNW 41–783,574
September 228:00 p.m.at No. 4 Florida StateNo. 10ABCL 37–4983,231
September 293:30 p.m.at Boston CollegeNo. 17ESPN2W 45–3140,138
October 63:30 p.m.Georgia TechNo. 15
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC (rivalry)
ESPNW 47–3182,873
October 20NoonVirginia TechNo. 14
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
ABC/ESPN2W 38–1783,338
October 257:30 p.m.at Wake ForestNo. 14ESPNW 42–1331,162
November 37:00 p.m.at DukeNo. 10ESPN2W 56–2031,894
November 103:30 p.m.Maryland No. 10
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
ESPNUW 45–1078,302
November 173:30 p.m.NC StateNo. 11
ABC/ESPN2W 62–4877,831
November 247:00 p.m.No. 13 South Carolina*No. 12
ESPNL 17–2784,513
December 317:30 p.m.vs. No. 9 LSU*No. 15
ESPNW 25–2468,027
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[3][4]

Depth chart edit

Recruiting class edit

US college sports recruiting information for 2012 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Carlos Watkins
DT
Forest City, North Carolina Chase High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 290 lb (130 kg) -  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Germone Hopper
WR
Charlotte, North Carolina Phillip O. Berry Academy 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 175 lb (79 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Travis Blanks
S
Tallahassee, Florida North Florida Christian High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Chad Kelly
QB
Buffalo, New York St. Joseph School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Zac Brooks
RB
Jonesboro, Arkansas Jonesboro H.S. 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Ronald Geohaghan
S
Fairfax, South Carolina Allendale Fairfax High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Martin Aiken
DE
Bamberg, South Carolina Bamberg Ehrhardt 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 240 lb (110 kg) -  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
D. J. Reader
OL
Greensboro, North Carolina Grimsley 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 330 lb (150 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Jay Guillermo
C
Maryville, Tennessee Maryville H.S. 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 285 lb (129 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Patrick DeStefano
OL
Roebuck, South Carolina Dorman H.S. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 285 lb (129 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Isaiah Battle
OL
Fork Union, Virginia Fork Union Military Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (120 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Oliver Jones
OL
Ninety Six, South Carolina Ninety Six H.S. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 300 lb (140 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Kevin Dodd
DT
Chatham, Virginia Hargrave Military Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 280 lb (130 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
TJ Burrell
LB
Goose Creek, South Carolina Goose Creek H.S. 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Cordrea Tankersley
ATH
Aiken, South Carolina Silver Bluff H.S. 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 262 lb (119 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Shaq Lawson
DE
Central, South Carolina D. W. Daniel 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 255 lb (116 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Marty Williams
S
North Augusta, South Carolina Fox Creek H.S. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Jay Jay McCullough
ATH
Fort Mill, South Carolina Foc Creek Charter 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 230 lb (100 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Bradley Pinion
K
Concord, North Carolina Northwest Cabarrus 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 17   Rivals: 14  247Sports: 15  ESPN: 10
  • ‡ 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:

  • "2012 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 6, 2016.

Game summaries edit

Auburn edit

1 2 3 4 Total
#25 Auburn 7 3 6 3 19
#14 Clemson 3 10 3 10 26

Ball State edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 7 3 10 7 27
#12 Tigers 13 32 0 7 52

Furman edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Paladins 0 7 0 0 7
#11 Tigers 7 13 14 7 41

Florida State edit

1 2 3 4 Total
#10 Tigers 14 7 10 6 37
#4 Seminoles 7 7 21 14 49

Boston College edit

1 2 3 4 Total
#17 Tigers 10 14 14 7 45
Eagles 7 14 7 3 31

Georgia Tech edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Yellow Jackets 14 7 7 3 31
#3 Tigers 10 17 3 17 47

Virginia Tech edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Hokies 7 3 0 7 17
#14 Tigers 3 14 14 7 38

Wake Forest edit

1 2 3 4 Total
#14 Tigers 7 28 0 7 42
Demon Deacons 0 7 6 0 13

Duke edit

1 2 3 4 Total
#10 Tigers 28 14 7 7 56
Blue Devils 10 7 3 0 20

Maryland edit

1 2 3 4 Total
Terrapins 0 7 3 0 10
#110 Tigers 21 14 3 7 45

NC State edit

NC State Wolfpack (6–4) at #9 Clemson Tigers (9–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
NC State 21 3 141048
Clemson 13 28 21062

at Memorial StadiumClemson, South Carolina

  • Date: November 17
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • 57 °F (14 °C) • Wind E 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 76,000
  • Referee: J. Magallanes
  • Box Score
Game information

South Carolina edit

1 2 3 4 Total
#13 Gamecocks 7 3 10 7 27
#12 Tigers 14 0 3 0 17

LSU (Chick-Fil-A Bowl) edit

1 2 3 4 Total
#15 Clemson 7 6 0 12 25
#9 LSU 7 7 10 0 24

Rankings edit

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP14121110171516141410101112151411
Coaches14121191615131313989914139
HarrisNot released14131399991413Not released
BCSNot released1918131311111414Not released

2013 NFL draft edit

Clemson had four players selected in the 2013 NFL draft. DeAndre Hopkins went in the first round as the 27th overall pick.

Player Team Round Pick # Position
DeAndre Hopkins Houston Texans 1st 27th WR
Malliciah Goodman Atlanta Falcons 4th 127th DE
Jonathan Meeks Buffalo Bills 4th 143th DB
Andre Ellington Arizona Cardinals 6th 187th RB

References edit

  1. ^ a b "2018 ACC Media Guide" (PDF). theacc.com. ACC. p. 115. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  2. ^ "Football - 2012 Coaches". Clemson University Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on December 26, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  3. ^ "Atlantic Coast Conference Announces 2012 Football Championship Game Time and Early Season TV Schedule". clemsontigers.com. Retrieved May 17, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Clemson Football Schedule". clemsontigers.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.

External links edit

  • 2012 Clemson Tigers at ESPN