2017 Clemson Tigers football team
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 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, 6–24.
Previous season
The Tigers entered the 2017 season as defending national champions, having finished the 2016 season 14–1 with a 35–31 win over Alabama in the CFP National Championship game.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 |
| Danny Pearman | Assistant Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends Coach | 10th | Clemson |
| Brent Venables | Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach | 6th | Kansas State |
| Todd Bates | Defensive Line Coach | 1st | Alabama |
| Jeff Scott | Co-Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers Coach | 10th | Clemson |
| Tony Elliott | Co-Offensive Coordinator / Running Backs Coach | 7th | Clemson |
| Robbie Caldwell | Offensive Linemen Coach | 7th | Furman |
| Mike Reed | Defensive Backs Coach | 5th | Boston College |
| Brandon Streeter | Recruiting Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 4th | Clemson |
| Joey Batson | Director of Strength and Conditioning | 21st | Newberry College |
| Mickey Conn | Co-defensive backs coach | 2nd | Alabama |
| Kyle Richardson | Offensive Analyst | 2nd | Appalachian State |
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, 7 other bowl teams, and 1 FCS playoff participant.
Rankings
Roster
Source:Recruiting class
Transfers
Clemson lost 6 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 ;; |
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
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
[2017 [Atlantic Coast Conference football season#All Conference Teams|All-ACC Teams]]
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 |