Clemson Tigers football statistical leaders explained
The Clemson Tigers football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Clemson Tigers football program in various categories,[1] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, kicking, and scoring. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Tigers represent Clemson University in the NCAA's Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Although Clemson began competing in intercollegiate football in 1896, the school's official record book does not generally include statistics from before the 1940s, as records from before this time are often incomplete and inconsistent.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
- Since the 1940s, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
- The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
- Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[2] The Tigers have played in 22 bowl games since this decision, including two in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019, giving many recent players extra games to accumulate statistics. Similarly, the Tigers have played in the ACC Championship Game seven times since 2009.
- The Tigers have topped the 5,000-yard mark 17 times in school history, with ten of those coming since 2010. The Tigers eclipsed 6,000 offensive yards for the first time in 2011 and have now done it nine times. The Tigers set an offensive record in 2019, with 7,931 yards, their fourth year eclipsing the 7,000-yard mark, overtaking 2018's 7,908 yards. In 2015 they gained 7,718 yards and nearly matched it with 7,555 yards in 2016. This means more recent players will tend to dominate offensive lists.
These lists are updated through the Tigers' game against Ohio State on January 1, 2021.
Passing
Passing yards
Career1 | Tajh Boyd | 11,904 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 |
2 | Deshaun Watson | 10,163[3] | 2014 2015 2016 |
3 | | 10,098[4] | 2018 2019 2020 |
4 | Charlie Whitehurst | 9,665 | 2002 2003 2004 2005 |
5 | Woodrow Dantzler | 6,037 | 1998 1999 2000 2001 |
6 | Cullen Harper | 5,762 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 |
7 | Nealon Greene | 5,719 | 1994 1995 1996 1997 |
8 | DJ Uiagalelei | 5,681 | 2020 2021 2022 |
9 | Kyle Parker | 4,739 | 2009 2010 |
10 | Rodney Williams | 4,647 | 1985 1986 1987 1988 | |
Single season1 | Deshaun Watson | 4,593 | 2016 |
2 | Deshaun Watson | 4,104 | 2015 |
3 | Tajh Boyd | 3,896 | 2012 |
4 | Tajh Boyd | 3,851 | 2013 |
5 | Tajh Boyd | 3,828 | 2011 |
6 | Trevor Lawrence | 3,665 | 2019 |
7 | Charlie Whitehurst | 3,561 | 2003 |
8 | Trevor Lawrence | 3,280 | 2018 |
9 | Trevor Lawrence | 3,153 | 2020 |
10 | Cullen Harper | 2,991 | 2007 | |
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career1 | | 4,952[21] | 2017 2018 2019 2020 |
2 | Raymond Priester | 3,966 | 1994 1995 1996 1997 |
3 | James Davis | 3,881 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 |
4 | C. J. Spiller | 3,547 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 |
5 | Andre Ellington | 3,436 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 |
6 | Wayne Gallman | 3,429 | 2014 2015 2016 |
7 | Travis Zachery | 3,043 | 1998 1999 2000 2001 |
8 | Kenny Flowers | 2,914 | 1983 1984 1985 1986 |
9 | Terry Allen | 2,778 | 1987 1988 1989 |
10 | Will Shipley | 2,748 | 2021 2022 2023 | |
Single season1 | Travis Etienne | 1,658 | 2018 |
2 | | 1,614 | 2019 |
3 | Wayne Gallman | 1,527[22] | 2015 |
4 | Raymond Priester | 1,345 | 1996 |
5 | Raymond Priester | 1,322 | 1995 |
6 | Terrence Flagler | 1,258 | 1986 |
7 | C. J. Spiller | 1,212 | 2009 |
8 | Kenny Flowers | 1,200 | 1985 |
9 | Terry Allen | 1,192 | 1988 |
10 | James Davis | 1,187 | 2006 | |
Rushing touchdowns
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards
Career1 | Sammy Watkins | 3,391 | 2011 2012 2013 |
2 | DeAndre Hopkins | 3,020 | 2010 2011 2012 |
3 | Aaron Kelly | 2,733 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 |
4 | Mike Williams | 2,727 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 |
5 | Terry Smith | 2,681 | 1990 1991 1992 1993 |
6 | Perry Tuttle | 2,534 | 1978 1979 1980 1981 |
7 | Artavis Scott | 2,480 | 2014 2015 2016 |
8 | Tee Higgins | 2,448 | 2017 2018 2019 |
9 | Rod Gardner | 2,404 | 1997 1998 1999 2000 |
10 | Justyn Ross | 2,379 | 2018 2019 2021 | |
Single season1 | Sammy Watkins | 1,464 | 2013 |
2 | DeAndre Hopkins | 1,405 | 2012 |
3 | Mike Williams | 1,361 | 2016 |
4 | Sammy Watkins | 1,219 | 2011 |
5 | Tee Higgins | 1,167 | 2019 |
6 | Rod Gardner | 1,084 | 1999 |
7 | Aaron Kelly | 1,081 | 2007 |
8 | Rod Gardner | 1,050 | 2000 |
9 | Mike Williams | 1,030 | 2014 |
10 | Derrick Hamilton | 1,026 | 2003 | |
Receiving touchdowns
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[48]
Total offense yards
Career1 | Tajh Boyd | 13,069 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 |
2 | Deshaun Watson | 12,097 | 2014 2015 2016 |
3 | | 11,041 | 2018 2019 2020 |
4 | Charlie Whitehurst | 9,763 | 2002 2003 2004 2005 |
5 | Woodrow Dantzler | 8,798 | 1998 1999 2000 2001 |
6 | Nealon Greene | 6,785 | 1994 1995 1996 1997 |
7 | DJ Uiagalelei | 6,594[49] | 2020 2021 2022 |
8 | Steve Fuller | 6,096 | 1975 1976 1977 1978 |
9 | Cullen Harper | 5,549 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 |
10 | Rodney Williams | 5,510 | 1985 1986 1987 1988 | |
Single season1 | | 5,222 | 2016 |
2 | Deshaun Watson | 5,209 | 2015 |
3 | | 4,410 | 2012 |
4 | | 4,251 | 2013 |
5 | | 4,228 | |
6 | | 4,046 | 2011 |
7 | | 3,639 | 2001 |
8 | | 3,610 | |
9 | | 3,467 | 2017 |
10 | | 3,457 | 2018 | |
Touchdowns responsible for
"Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[52]
Defense
Interceptions
Tackles
Sacks
Kicking
Field goals made
Single game1 | Jad Dean | 6[58] | | Texas A&M |
| Richard Jackson | 6[59] | | Boston College |
3 | Nelson Welch | 5 | | NC State |
| Nelson Welch | 5 | | Maryland |
| Nelson Welch | 5 | | North Carolina |
| Chandler Catanzaro | 5[60] | | Boston College | |
Field goal percentage
Scoring
Clemson does not list single-game scoring leaders in its football media guide. Its officially recognized single-game scoring record is 33 points, set by Maxcey Welch in a 1930 game against Newberry. This is one of the very few "old-time" records that the program acknowledges.
Points
Touchdowns
Unlike the "Total touchdowns" lists in the "Total offense" section, these lists count touchdowns scored. Accordingly, these lists include rushing, receiving, and return touchdowns, but not passing touchdowns.
As in the case of the single-game scoring record, Clemson does not publish an all-time list of top performances for single-game touchdowns. As in the case of single-game points, the school's officially recognized record in this category comes from the "pre-modern" era. The aforementioned Maxcey Welch scored 5 touchdowns (all rushing) as part of his record 33-point performance against Newberry in 1930; this equaled Stumpy Banks' performance of 5 rushing touchdowns in a 1917 game against Furman.
Notes and References
- Web site: 2019 Clemson Tigers Media Guide . Clemson Tigers . August 29, 2019.
- Web site: NCAA changes policy on football stats. 2002-08-28. 2014-09-11. ESPN.com. AP.
- Web site: Deshaun Watson. 2017-01-11. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Trevor Lawrence . ESPN.com . November 14, 2019.
- Web site: Pitt stuns No. 2 Clemson on Chris Blewitt's 48-yard field goal . 2016-11-12 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: No. 3 Clemson cruises on road at Syracuse . 2013-10-05 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Clemson vs. Notre Dame Box Score. ESPN.com. November 7, 2020. November 8, 2020.
- Web site: Clemson freshman QB Watson has 6 TDs in 50-35 win . 2014-09-27 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins set marks in No. 18 Clemson's rout . 2012-10-25 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Watson throws for 3 TDs in No. 5 Clemson's 34-17 victory . 2015-10-17 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Deshaun Watson TD pass with 1 second left lifts Clemson to national title . 2017-01-09 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Watson throws 6 TD passes, leads No. 4 Clemson to 56-7 win . 2016-11-26 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Harper's 5 TD tosses leads Clemson to 2nd win this week . 2007-09-08 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Clemson 70, Cent. Michigan 14 . 2007-10-20 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Tajh Boyd tosses 5 TDs to push No. 7 Clemson past North Carolina . https://web.archive.org/web/20230909030547/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/312950228 . dead . September 9, 2023 . 2011-10-22 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Clemson dismantles Duke behind Tajh Boyd's 5 TD passes . 2012-11-03 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Tajh Boyd's 5 TDs, 288 yards pace Clemson romp of Citadel . 2013-11-23 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins connect as Clemson rallies past Ohio State . 2014-01-03 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Deshaun Watson, No. 3 Clemson stay perfect . 2015-10-31 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Watson TDs lift No. 5 Clemson to 42-36 win over Louisville . 2016-10-01 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Travis Etienne . ESPN.com.
- Web site: Wayne Gallman. 2017-01-11. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Georgia Tech closes out Clemson, claims first BCS berth . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202233023/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/293390228 . dead . December 2, 2023 . 2009-12-05 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Clemson gets 231 yards out of Andre Ellington to drop Auburn . 2012-09-01 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Clemson clocks Georgia Tech behind career day from Davis . https://web.archive.org/web/20230822002731/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/262940228 . dead . August 22, 2023 . 2006-10-21 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Clemson overcomes upset-minded Maryland behind Tajh Boyd's 4 TD passes . https://web.archive.org/web/20231117114145/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/312880120 . dead . November 17, 2023 . 2011-10-15 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Wofford vs. Clemson Box Score . November 2, 2019 . November 3, 2019 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Will Shipley. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Artavis Scott. 2017-01-11. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Amari Rodgers. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Mike Williams. 2017-01-11. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins pace No. 9 Clemson past Maryland . 2013-10-26 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Clemson 37, Middle Tenn. 14 . 2003-09-13 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: No. 1 Clemson keeps rolling, outscores Syracuse 37-27 . 2015-11-14 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: OT Thriller: No. 3 Clemson survives NC State, 24-17 . 2016-10-15 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Tajh Boyd runs for score, delivers Clemson past BC . 2012-09-29 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Clemson edges LSU on last-second field goal . 2012-12-31 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Wayne Gallman rushes for 191 as Tigers end 5-game slide vs. rival . 2014-11-29 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Virginia vs. Clemson Box Score. December 7, 2019. December 7, 2019. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Tajh Boyd sets record, launches Clemson past Georgia Tech in rout . 2013-11-14 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Pittsburgh vs. Clemson Box Score. ESPN.com. November 28, 2020. November 30, 2020.
- Web site: Jordan Leggett. 2017-01-11. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Tee Higgins. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Deon Cain. 2017-01-11. ESPN.com.
- Web site: DeAndre Hopkins, Andre Ellington spark No. 12 Clemson . 2012-09-08 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: NCAA Statistics.
- Web site: Diondre Overton Game by Game Stats and Performance.
- Web site: 2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records . NCAA . 9 . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: DJ Uiagalelei. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Tajh Boyd accounts for 8 TDs as Clemson roughs up NC State . 2012-11-17 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: No. 2 Alabama holds off No. 1 Clemson for Nick Saban's 5th national title . 2016-01-11 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: 2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records . NCAA . 12 . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: Clemson rebounds with easy victory over Citadel . https://web.archive.org/web/20230614171235/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/282500228 . dead . June 14, 2023 . 2008-09-06 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Clemson vs Duke Notes: Record Setting Day for Tigers - Clemson Football News - TigerNet. Release. Press. www.tigernet.com. 7 November 1999. 2016-04-06.
- Web site: Clemson downs Virginia Tech for third straight win over ranked team . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425173510/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/312740259 . dead . April 25, 2023 . 2011-10-01 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: B.T. Potter. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Greg Huegel. 2017-01-11. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Dean sets school record as Tigers edge Aggies . 2005-09-03 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Spiller drives Clemson with 219 all-purpose yards before leaving game with injury . 2009-09-19 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Tajh Boyd injures hip while No. 8 Clemson glides past Boston College . https://web.archive.org/web/20231117013905/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/312810228 . dead . November 17, 2023 . 2011-10-08 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: B.T. Potter. ESPN.com.