2021 Clemson Tigers football team explained

Year:	2021
Team:	Clemson Tigers
Sport:	football
Conference:	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division:	Atlantic Division
Short Conf:	ACC
Record:	10–3
Conf Record:	6–2
Aprank:	14
Coachrank:	16
Head Coach:	Dabo Swinney
Hc Year:	13th full, 14th overall
Off Coach:	Tony Elliott
Oc Year:	7th
Off Scheme:	Spread
Def Coach:	Brent Venables
Dc Year:	10th
Def Scheme:	4–3
Stadium:	Memorial Stadium
Champion:	Cheez-It Bowl champion
Bowl:	Cheez-It Bowl
Bowl Result:	W 20–13 vs. Iowa State

The 2021 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney, in his 14th year. The Tigers competed as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

For the first time since 2014, Clemson did not reach the ACC Championship Game or the College Football Playoff. This season ended the team's streak of six consecutive conference championships, the longest in FBS as of the 2021 season.

The Tigers ended the season with a victory over Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl.

Offseason

Recruiting

Clemson's 2021 class consisted of nineteen signees.^[1] The class was ranked first in the ACC and fifth best overall by the 247Sports Composite.^[2]

Players leaving for NFL

NFL draftees

1	1	Trevor Lawrence	QB	Jacksonville Jaguars
1	25	Travis Etienne	RB
2	46	Jackson Carman	OT	Cincinnati Bengals
3	85	Amari Rodgers	WR	Green Bay Packers
5	181	Cornell Powell		Kansas City Chiefs

Transfers

Preseason transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	College transferred to	Source(s)
	1		6'0"	190	Junior			^[3] ^[4]
DeMarkcus Bowman	1		5'10"	190	Freshman			^[5] ^[6]
Mike Jones Jr.	6		6'0"	200	Sophomore			^[7] ^[8]
Michel Dukes	19		5'10"	205	Junior			^[9] ^[10]
LeAnthony Williams Jr.	20		5'11"	185	Junior			^[11] ^[12]
Chez Mellusi	27		5'11"	200	Junior			^[13] ^[14]
Nyles Pinckney	44		6'1"	300	Senior			^[15] ^[16]
Kaleb Boateng	50		6'4"	315	Freshman			^[17] ^[18]
	59		6'4"	310	Junior			^[19] ^[20]

Midseason transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	College transferred to	Source(s)
	2		6'3"	205	Junior			^[21] ^[22]
Taisun Phommachanh	7		6'3"	220	Sophomore			^[23] ^[24]
	11		6'3"	215	Sophomore			^[25] ^[26]
Ray Thornton III	16		6'1"	205	Sophomore			^[27] ^[28]
Kane Patterson	17		6'1"	225	Junior			^[29] ^[30]
Joseph Charleston	18		6'0"	190	Junior			^[31] ^[32]
Lyn-J Dixon	23		5'10"	195	Senior			^[33] ^[34]
Paul Tchio	57		6'5"	300	Sophomore			^[35] ^[36]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award	Player	Position	Year
Lott Trophy^[37]	Andrew Booth Jr.	CB	JR
	Nolan Turner	S	SR
Maxwell Award^[38]	DJ Uiagalelei	QB	SO
	Justyn Ross	WR	JR
Bednarik Award	Bryan Bresee	DT	SO
	Nolan Tuner	S	SR
Davey O'Brien Award^[39]	DJ Uiagalelei	QB	SO
Doak Walker Award^[40]	Lyn-J Dixon	RB	SR
Biletnikoff Award^[41]	Justyn Ross	WR	JR
Butkus Award^[42]	James Skalski	LB	SR
	Baylon Spector	LB	SR
Jim Thorpe Award^[43]	Andrew Booth Jr.	CB	JR
	Nolan Tuner	S	SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy^[44]	Bryan Bresee	DT	SO
	Myles Murphy	DT	SO
	James Skalski	LB	SR
	Nolan Tuner	S	SR
Outland Trophy^[45]	Bryan Bresee	DT	SO
	Tyler Davis	DT	JR
	Jordan McFadden	OT	JR
Ray Guy Award^[46]	Will Spiers	P	GS
Lou Groza Award	B. T. Potter	PK	SR
Walter Camp Award^[47]	Bryan Bresee	DT	SO
	Justyn Ross	WR	JR

Schedule

^[48]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Clemson Tigers football current coaching staff^[49]

	Head coach	University of Alabama (1993)	14th
	Associate head coach/defensive coordinator/linebackers coach	Kansas State University (1992)	9th
	Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/tight ends coach		Clemson University (2002)	6th
	Assistant coach/Special teams coordinator/safeties coach	University of Alabama (1995)	6th
	Assistant coach/passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach	Clemson University (1999)	7th
	Assistant coach/recruiting coordinator/defensive tackles coach	University of Alabama (2004)	4th
	Assistant coach/offensive linemen coach	Furman University (1977)	10th
	Assistant coach/wide receivers coach	Clemson University (2009)	2nd
	Assistant coach/defensive ends coach	University of Alabama (1993)	4th
	Assistant coach/cornerbacks coach	Boston College (1994)	8th
	Assistant coach/running backs coach	Clemson University (2009)	1st

Roster

^[50]

Game summaries

vs. No. 5 Georgia

See also: 2021 Georgia Bulldogs football team.

South Carolina State

See also: 2021 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team.

Georgia Tech

See also: 2021 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team.

At NC State

See also: 2021 NC State Wolfpack football team.

Boston College

See also: 2021 Boston College Eagles football team.

At Syracuse

See also: 2021 Syracuse Orange football team.

At No. 23 Pittsburgh

See also: 2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football team.

Florida State

See also: 2021 Florida State Seminoles football team.

At Louisville

See also: 2021 Louisville Cardinals football team.

UConn

See also: 2021 UConn Huskies football team.

No. 10 Wake Forest

See also: 2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team.

At South Carolina

See also: 2021 South Carolina Gamecocks football team.

vs. Iowa State

See also: 2021 Iowa State Cyclones football team and 2021 Cheez-It Bowl.

Awards and honors

All-ACC

Player	Position	Team
Tyler Davis	DT	First Team
James Skalski	LB
Mario Goodrich	CB
Andrew Booth Jr.
Jordan McFadden	OT	Second Team
Myles Murphy	DE
B. T. Potter	PK
Xavier Thomas	DE	Third Team
Bryan Bresee	DT
Andrew Mukuba	S
Davis Allen	TE	Honorable Mention
Will Shipley	AP
Will Putnam	OG
Baylon Spector	LB
Nolan Turner	S
Will Spiers	P
Source:^[51]

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2022 NFL draft.

2	42	Andrew Booth Jr.	CB	Minnesota Vikings
7	231	Baylon Spector	LB	Buffalo Bills

Notes and References

1. Web site: Clemson 202' Football Commits. 247Sports.com. February 10, 2021.
2. Web site: 2021 Football Team Rankings [Composite]]. 247Sports.com. February 10, 2021.
3. Clemson's Derion Kendrick Removed from Roster, Expected to Transfer. Sports Illustrated. Brad. Senkiw. February 28, 2021. May 19, 2021.
4. Web site: Georgia football hits home run landing five-star transfers TE Arik Gilbert, DB Derion Kendrick. CBS. Barrett. Sallee. June 1, 2021. June 2, 2021.
5. Web site: Clemson running back Demarkcus Bowman in transfer portal. ESPN. Adam. Rittenberg. October 1, 2020. October 4, 2020.
6. Web site: Florida football recruiting: Clemson five-star running back Demarkcus Bowman transfers to Gators. CBS. Barrett. Sallee. October 3, 2020. October 4, 2020.
7. Web site: Clemson Tigers LB Mike Jones Jr. enters transfer portal. ESPN. Tom. VanHaaren. January 25, 2021. February 10, 2021.
8. Web site: LSU lands Clemson transfer Mike Jones Jr.. 247Sports. Shea. Dixon. February 10, 2021. February 10, 2021.
9. Web site: Clemson football: Junior RB Michel Dukes enters transfer portal. 247sports.com. CBS Interactive. Isaac. Trotter. October 19, 2021. October 20, 2021.
10. Web site: Former Clemson RB announces transfer commitment. tigernet.com. TigerNet. November 14, 2021. November 15, 2021.
11. Web site: Clemson defense loses another veteran to transfer portal as younger talent rises. greenvilleonline.com. Greenville News. Todd. Shanesy. February 10, 2021. February 10, 2021.
12. Web site: Clemson cornerback, former four-star recruit, transfers to Conference USA school. The News & Observer. Matt. Connolly. February 10, 2021. February 11, 2021.
13. Web site: Clemson running back Chez Mellusi enters transfer portal. greenvilleonline.com. Greenville News. Scott. Keepfer. April 26, 2021. April 27, 2021.
14. Web site: Badgers land Clemson transfer RB Chez Mellusi. madison.com. Wisconsin State Journal. Colten. Bartholomew. June 2, 2021. June 2, 2021.
15. Nyles Pinckney Enters Transfer Portal. Sports Illustrated. Zach. Lentz. January 4, 2021. February 10, 2021.
16. Web site: Gophers land Clemson's Nyles Pinckney as a graduate transfer. Star Tribune. Megan. Ryan. January 12, 2021. February 10, 2021.
17. Web site: Clemson offensive lineman enters transfer portal. tigernet.com. TigerNet. February 3, 2021. August 6, 2021.
18. Web site: Former Clemson offensive lineman transferring to Florida. Saturday Down South. August 6, 2021. August 6, 2021.
19. Clemson DT Jordan Williams Enters Transfer Portal. Sports Illustrated. Zach. Lentz. January 4, 2021. February 10, 2021.
20. Web site: Virginia Tech lands verbal commitment from Clemson DT transfer Jordan Williams. The Roanoke Times. Mike. Niziolek. January 11, 2021. February 10, 2021.
21. Web site: Clemson QB Taisun Phommachanh, WR Frank Ladson enter NCAA transfer portal. 247 Sports. 247sports.com. Will. Backus. December 3, 2021. December 6, 2021.
22. Web site: Wide receiver Frank Ladson Jr. stays in ACC, joins Miami after leaving Clemson football program. ESPN. Adam. Rittenberg. January 15, 2022. January 16, 2022.
23. Web site: Clemson football players Frank Ladson Jr., Taisun Phommachanh enter transfer portal. espn.com. The Associated Press. December 3, 2021. December 6, 2021.
24. Web site: Taisun Phommachanh, E.J. Jenkins commit to Georgia Tech out of portal. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. May 16, 2022. May 17, 2022.
25. Web site: Clemson WR enters transfer portal. tigernet.com. TigerNet. December 11, 2021. December 13, 2021.
26. Web site: Former Clemson WR will play for Jeff Scott at USF. tigernet.com. TigerNet. Tony. Crumpton. December 15, 2021. December 15, 2021.
27. Web site: Clemson DB enters transfer portal. tigernet.com. TigerNet. December 2, 2021. December 2, 2021.
28. Web site: Former Clemson DB will play for Jeff Scott at USF. tigernet.com. TigerNet. Tony. Crumpton. December 13, 2021. December 13, 2021.
29. Web site: Clemson LB enters transfer portal. tigernet.com. TigerNet. November 29, 2021. November 30, 2021.
30. Web site: Clemson transfer LB Kane Patterson commits to Vanderbilt. 247sports.com. 247 Sports. Robbie. Weinstein. December 17, 2021. February 16, 2022.
31. Web site: Clemson safety entering transfer portal. tigernet.com. TigerNet. October 18, 2021. October 19, 2021.
32. Web site: Former Clemson safety announces transfer to SEC school. tigernet.com. TigerNet. December 21, 2021. December 27, 2021.
33. Web site: Clemson RB entering transfer portal. tigernet.com. TigerNet. September 20, 2021. September 21, 2021.
34. Web site: Lyn-J Dixon details his decision to leave Clemson, transfer to West Virginia. thestate.com. The State. Alexis. Cubit. December 10, 2021. February 16, 2022.
35. Web site: Breaking: Clemson OL enters transfer portal. tigernet.com. TigerNet. Tony. Crumpton. November 9, 2021. November 9, 2021.
36. Web site: Former Clemson lineman commits to transfer for ACC school. tigernet.com. TigerNet. December 17, 2021. December 17, 2021.
37. Web site: 2021 LOTT IMPACT TROPHY WATCH LIST CANDIDATES . lottimpacttrophy.org. Lott IMPACT Trophy. July 6, 2021.
38. Web site: Maxwell Football Club Names Four Tigers to Maxwell, Bednarik Watch Lists. clemsontigers.com. Clemson University Athletics. July 19, 2021. July 19, 2021.
39. Web site: Davey O'Brien Award Announces 30-Player Preseason Watch List. daveyobrienaward.org. Davey O'Brien Foundation. July 20, 2021. July 20, 2021.
40. Web site: Dixon Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List. clemsontigers.com. Clemson University Athletics. July 21, 2021. July 21, 2021.
41. Web site: 2021 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. biletnikoffaward.com. Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc.. July 22, 2021. July 22, 2021.
42. Web site: Skalski, Spector Named to Butkus Award Watch List. clemsontigers.com. Clemson University Athletics. July 26, 2021. July 26, 2021.
43. Web site: Booth, Turner Named to Thorpe Award Watch List. clemsontigers.com. Clemson University Athletics. July 26, 2021. July 26, 2021.
44. Web site: Six different Tigers land on Nagurski, Outland Trophy watch lists. tigernet.com. TigerNet. July 27, 2021. July 27, 2021.
45. Web site: Three Tigers Placed on Outland Trophy Watch List. clemsontigers.com. Clemson University Athletics. July 27, 2021. July 27, 2021.
46. Web site: 13 ACC Specialists Named to Guy and Groza Watch Lists. theacc.com. The Atlantic Coast Conference. July 28, 2021. July 29, 2021.
47. Web site: Four from ACC Selected to Walter Camp Award Watch List. theacc.com. The Atlantic Coast Conference. July 30, 2021. July 30, 2021.
48. Web site: 2021 Clemson Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . January 30, 2021.
49. Web site: Football Coaching Staff. clemsontigers.com. Clemson University Athletics. February 11, 2021.
50. Web site: 2021–22 Football Roster. Clemson University Athletics. clemsontigers.com. July 28, 2021.
51. Web site: Pitt Leads with 12 on All-ACC Football Teams. theacc.com. The Atlantic Coast Conference. November 30, 2021. November 30, 2021.