CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Alexander is listed as a first-round pick in several NFL mock drafts
Alexander is listed as a first-round pick in several NFL mock drafts

Five Tigers turning Pro, Four returning


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Clemson, S.C.— Jayron Kearse, Mackensie Alexander, Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd and T.J. Green, starters from Clemson’s 2015 defense that helped the Tigers to a No. 2 final national ranking, have announced they will turn professional. Returning starters Wayne Gallman (RB), Carlos Watkins (DT) Jordan Leggett (TE) and Cordrea Tankersley (CB), have announced they will return to the Clemson program for the 2016 season.

All nine players were significant reasons Clemson finished with a 14-1 record, a school record for wins, an ACC Championship and a No. 2 final national rankings, the second best final ranking in school history.

Lawson led the nation in total tackles for loss in 2015 with 25.5, including 12.5 sacks. He finished the year with 86 total tackles and 15 quarterback pressures. He was a consensus All-American who was a finalist for the Nagurski Award, the Lombardi Award and the Hendricks Award.

Dodd finished very strong with 8.5 tackles for loss in the Orange Bowl and National Championship games combined. His five tackles for loss against Alabama were the most by any defensive player in the bowl season and tied for the second most in a game in Clemson history. He finished the year with 23.5 tackles for loss, second most in the nation behind Lawson, and added 12 sacks.

Secondary starters Kearse, Alexander and Green all were major reasons Clemson ranked second in the nation in completion percentage defense with a .484 figure. The Tigers were also 11th in pass efficiency defense and 10th in total defense. Kearse was a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and Alexander was a third-team selection. Alexander did not give up a touchdown pass to the man he was assigned to guard all year. Green was Clemson’s top tackler in the National Championship game with 12 against Alabama and finished the year with 128 tackles, third on the team.

Travis Blanks, a junior in eligibility who graduated from Clemson in December, had announced earlier that this would be his final year and that he would pursue a professional career. Clemson also must replace starting linebacker B.J. Goodson. The graduate led Clemson in tackles this past season with 156.

As it stands, Clemson will have just three returning starters on defense for 2016, the same number they had returning for the 2015 season. It will be just the second time since 1979 that Clemson has had just three returning starters on defense. This past season was the other year that has been the case.

The returning starters on defense include first-team All-ACC tackle Carlos Watkins, first-team All-ACC linebacker Ben Boulware, and second-team All-ACC cornerback Cordrea Tankersley. Tankersely led the Clemson team in interceptions last year with five. Watkins had 67 total tackles and had eight tackles for loss, while Boulware was second on the team in tackles with 135.

With the return of Gallman and Leggett, Clemson will return nine starters on offense (including kicker Greg Huegel). That does not include Mike Williams, a starting wide receiver in 2014, who missed all but one game in 2015 due to a neck injury suffered while catching a touchdown pass in the season opener.

Gallman finished the 2015 season with a school record 1,527 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He added 213 yards receiving on 21 catches, giving him 1,740 yards from scrimmage. Leggett had eight touchdown receptions to tie a Clemson single season record for a tight end.

Clemson’s most important returning starter is quarterback Deshaun Watson. The consensus first-team All-America quarterback and 2015 Heisman finalist became the first FBS quarterback to record at least 4,000 yards passing at 1,000 yards rushing in the same season. He finished with 35 touchdown passes and 12 rushing touchdowns. Clemson also returns starting offensive linemen Mitch Hyatt, Jay Guillermo and Tyrone Crowder.

Watson was a big reason Clemson finished 11th in the nation in total offense with an average of 514 yards per game. Clemson gained at least 500 yards in each of its last 11 games, a school record. That included 550 yards against Alabama’s No. 2 ranked total defense, 107 more yards than any other team gained against the Crimson Tide in 2015.

Watson was a big reason Clemson finished 11th in the nation in total offense with an average of 514 yards per game. Clemson gained at least 500 yards in each of its last 11 games, a school record. That included 550 yards against Alabama’s No. 2 ranked total defense, 107 more yards than any other team gained against the Crimson Tide in 2015.

Starters Returning (14)

Offense (9)

Pos Name 2015 Career

Starts Starts

QB Deshaun Watson, Jr. 15 20

RB Wayne Gallman, Jr. 13 22

WR Artavis Scott, Jr. 15 21

WR Hunter Renfrow, So. 10 10

TE Jordan Leggett, Sr. 15 23

OT Mitch Hyatt, So. 15 15

OG Tyrone Crowder, Jr. 12 13

C Jay Guillermo, Sr. 13 14

PK Greg Huegel, So. 14 14

Note: 2014 starter also WR Mike Williams Returns

Defense (5)

Pos Name 2015 Career

Starts Starts

DT Carlos Watkins, Sr. 14 15

DE Scott Pagano, Jr. 9 9

LB Ben Boulware, Sr. 15 17

CB Cordrea Tankersley, Sr. 15 15

P Andy Teasdall, Jr. 15 15

Note: 2014 Starter LB Korrin Wiggins returns at LB

Starters Lost (10)

Offense (3)

2015 Career

Starts Starts

WR Charone Peake 15 23

OT Joe Gore 14 17

OG Eric Mac Lain 15 16

Defense (7)

Pos Name 2015 Career

Starts Starts

DE Shaq Lawson 15 16

DE Kevin Dodd 15 15

LB B.J. Goodson 15 17

LB Travis Blanks 12 30

CB Mackensie Alexander 13 26

SAF Jayron Kearse 14 29

FS T.J. Green 15 16

Clemson Tigers

Lettermen Returning 56

Offensive Lettermen Returning 29

Defensive Lettermen Returning 23

Special Teams Lettermen Returning 4

Lettermen Lost

Offensive Lettermen Lost 12

Defensive Lettermen Lost 12

Special Teams Lettermen Lost 3

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