Clemson Tigers 2010 Review

2010 Record: 6-7 (4-4) Tied 4th Atlantic ACC
2010 Bowl Game: Meineke Bowl, Lost to South Florida 31-26
2010 Schedule/Results
North Texas, W 35-10
Presbyterian, W 58-21
@ Auburn, L 27-24
Miami, L 30-21
@ North Carolina, L 21-16
Maryland, W 31-7
Georgia Tech, W 27-13
@ Boston College, L 16-10
NC State, W 14-13
@ Florida State, L 16-13
@ Wake Forest, W 30-10
South Carolina, L 29-7
South Florida, L 31-26

OFFENSE
337.8 Yards per game

Everyone was so very excited when Kyle Parker decided to put off his baseball career to come back and play one more year at Clemson. They weren't so happy when the season was over. Parker never lived up to his hype in 2010, and the wheels came off of the wagon early on. Parker only managed 12 TD passes in 13 games, and he was picked off 11 times. There was some thought of replacing him, but Tahj Boyd wasn't much better, and so Parker kept his job. It isn't much known if Parker will give up football for baseball at this point, but I would guess that this will happen. Boyd would be first in line for the job, with Donny McElveen and Taylor Ogle pressing matters in the spring. 3 other QBs will come into play this fall with Tony McNeal, Morgan Roberts, and Cole Stoudt coming onboard.
Jamie Harper was the primary back this season for the Tigers, but he was not as special as his predecessors at the position. He rushed for 761 yards on the season, but shared the load with Andre Ellington, who rushed for 684 yards and 10 scores. It's going to be all Ellington's show next season, as Harper will leave for the NFL. Roderick McDowell will get a chance to supplant Harper's numbers. He'll be a sophomore next season, with Ellington will be a junior. Mike Bellamy will enter the scene as the star of this class as a 5 star prospect.
The receivers were not eye popping in 2010, as DeAndre Hopkins led the team with 51 receptions for 626 yards and 4 scores. The good news about the receiving corps is that the top 4 wideouts all return as does starting TE Dwayne Allen. The Tigers will also bring in 4 new wideouts, and there is serious star power in Martavis Bryant (4 star), Charone Peak (4 star), and Sammy Watkins (5 star). TE Eric MacLain also joins the group (4 star).
The Line only loses one starter in tackle Chris Hairston. The rest of the starting line returrns intact and of all of the reserves, only #2 center Ben Ramsey has departed. 4 new linemen will join the group, but all are 3 star players.

DEFENSE
323.8 yards allowed per game

Da'Quan Bowers may have been one of the most dominant players in the NCAA at DE as he collected 25 TFLs last season. He had 15 sacks on the year and had 66 tackles overall. You cannot ask any more from your DE, except that he may stay for another year. Bad news. He won't. Bowers is moving on to the NFL. Luckily, you have Andre Branch on the other side of the line, who finished with 54 tackles. He paled in comparison at 8.5 TFLs and 6 sacks, but another year may push him to be better when he is the guy. Brandon Thompson was a solid player at DT, as he collected 7.5 TFLs on the season. Jarvis Jenkins is another solid player at DT. The line was very good. Jenkins is gone along with Bowers. Miguel Chavis is the only reserve that is graduating. There will be a total of 7 new additions coming to Clemson in the fall on the D line, with DE Cory Crawford being the star of the group.
Whereas the line was hyper productive in 2010, the LB corps was underproductive, but was still very young. They lacked big time in productivity as Corico Hawkins was the leader in tackles with 73. No other LB had 50. This will have to change going forward, with Brandon Maye and Quandon Christian looking for major improvement. Jonathon Willard and Spencer Shuey will be there to push them. 4 new LBs will be coming in, and Tony Stewart and Stephone Anthony will be looking to play immediately, and are the kinds of players who can make a huge impact quickly.
Safety DeAndre McDaniel led all Tigers in tackles this season, but he has moved on after the season. CBs Byron Maxwell and Marcus Gilchrist also graduated after the season. That's 7 picks lost amongst the 3. They also lose 178 tackles with that group having departed. Coty Sensabaugh, Spencer Adams, and Xavier Brewer will all compete for the two CB jobs, while Carlton Lewis and Jonathon Meeks will battle to replace McDaniel. 2 new DBs will be added with 4 star Cortez Davis being the potential star.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Chandler Catanzaro was the primary kicker in 2010, but he was a bit of a mess, and was challenged by both Spencer Benton and Richard Jackson. Catanzaro only hit on 14 of his 22 kicks on the season, Benton only attempted 2 PATs (missed one), while Jackson missed both of his FG attempts. Ammon Lakipa was broguht in with the recruiting class to push all of them.
Dawson Zimmerman was the punter, and averaged 42.81 yards per punt. With the punting game likely solidified, the Tigers will be free to concentrate on the PK battle.
Marcus Gilchrist was the primary kick return man in 2010, averaging 23.25 yards per return. Andre Ellington will likely take his place in 2011. Gilchrist also handled punt return duties, so Jaron Brown seems to be the leader to replace him after Gilchrist averaged over 10 yards per punt return in 2010.

FINAL NOTES
Dabo Swinney is going to be on my hot seat entering 2011. He has still not made this team better than it was under Tommy Bowden. This recruiting class is incredible, and Swinney will need to get some major productivity out of it to save himself. He needs to find a QB in a hurry to make it go.

2011 NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
9/3 Troy, 9/10 Wofford, 9/17 Auburn, 11/26 @ South Carolina