Through the years Clemson has had some prolific offensive football teams and stars, especially in the last 15 years when the no-huddle, fast-break offenses became the norm in college football.
The Clemson Insider went through the archives to find the best offensive football teams in Clemson history. What are the criteria for the 10 best offenses in Clemson history? Obviously, yards and points per game will stand out, as will offensive playmakers. How many All-ACC or All-Americans were on the team? Where did they rank in the ACC, nationally and much more?
Today, we begin our list with what TCI believes is the No. 9 offense in Clemson history.
2007
Clemson had one of the most dangerous offenses in school history in 2007. Led by All-ACC quarterback Cullen Harper, along with All-ACC running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller, as well as All-ACC wide receiver Aaron Kelly, no one wanted to mess with the Tigers.
Clemson averaged a league high 33.1 points per game, while averaging 403.2 yards per game. The Tigers also led the league in passing efficiency offense (142.1) and third down conversions (42.0).
Harper led the ACC in passing efficiency with a 141.0 rating. The junior completed 65.1 percent of his passes—a Clemson record at the time—for 2,991 yards. He threw a then record 27 touchdown passes to 6 interceptions.
Davis once again led the Tigers on the ground with 1,064 yards for his second straight 1,000-yard season, just the third Clemson player in history at the time to accomplish that feat. Davis scored 10 touchdowns as well.
Spiller rushed for 768 yards and scored three touchdowns, while also catching 34 passes for 271 yards and two more scores. Spiller owned the longest run of the season (83 yards) and the longest reception of the season (68 yards).
Kelly led the ACC in receptions (88) and receiving yards (1,081), while also grabbing a league-high 11 touchdowns. Jacoby Ford tallied 17 catches for 310 yards and four scores, while Tyler Grisham hauled in 60 passes for 653 yards and four touchdowns as well.
Led by these explosive playmakers, Tommy Bowden’s led Tigers finished the season 9-4 overall with a 5-3 mark in the ACC. They finished the year ranked No. 21 in the country.
On September 3, 2007, Clemson opened the season on Labor Day for the first time in 25 years. Harper became the first Clemson quarterback in history to beat a ranked opponent in his first start as the Tigers down the 19th-ranked Seminoles 24-18.
On September 22, 2007, the Tigers improved to 4-0 as the offense racked up 608 yards in a 42-20 victory at NC State. Clemson gained 340 rushing yards behind Davis’ 166 and Spiller’s 114. Harper threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns. The 608 yards were the most at the time by a Clemson offense in a road ACC game.
Clemson’s offense continued to roll on October 20, 2007. The Tigers beat eventual MAC Champion Central Michigan, 70-14. Harper threw five touchdown passes in the game, the second time in the season he accomplished that feat. He completed 20 of 22 passes for 273 yards. Clemson scored 56 points in the second and third quarters combined.
The Tigers put up 30 points the next week against Maryland and then 47 more against Duke the following week. In all, Clemson scored 38 or more points six times in 2007, including 44 in a 44-10 win over defending ACC Champion Wake Forest on November 10, 2007.
In the win over the Demon Deacons, Spiller became the first player in Clemson history to return a kickoff for a touchdown in consecutive games. He had an 84-yard return against Duke the previous week and a 90-yard return for a score against Wake.
When the season was complete, tackle Barry Richardson and guard Chris McDuffie were named All-Americans. Richardson was a first-team selection, while McDuffie was a second-team guard.
Clemson’s 10 best offenses: No. 10
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