Four Tigers Led ACC in Statistical Categories

Jan. 6, 2012

CLEMSON, SC – Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins, Chandler Catanzaro and Andre Branch all led the ACC in various statistical categories in 2011. According to final statistics released by the ACC, the four players combined to lead the conference in 10 categories.

Boyd, the first-team All-ACC quarterback, paced the conference in total offense per game (289.0), passing yards per game (273.4), touchdown responsibility (38), touchdown passes (33), and completions (298). The sophomore is the first Clemson quarterback to lead the ACC in total offense since 2001 when Woodrow Dantzler led the league with 305.8 yards per game.

Boyd is the first Clemson quarterback to lead the ACC in passing offense and total offense in the same year since 1957 when Harvey White accomplished the feat. White was also a sophomore and a first-team All-ACC quarterback that year.

Boyd finished the season with 298 completions in 499 attempts for 3828 yards and 33 touchdowns for a 141.2 passing efficiency. His 298 completions rank fifth in ACC history, his 33 touchdown passes rank tied for second, his 3828 yards rank fourth and his 4046 yards of total offense rank fourth. His 38 touchdowns rushing and passing rank first in ACC history in the touchdown responsibility category.

Watkins ranked first in the ACC in all-purpose running yards with 2288 in 14 games, good for a 176.0 average. Watkins 2288 all-purpose yards rank second in ACC history, trailing only the 2680 former Tiger C.J. Spiller accumulated in 2009, his senior year. Watkins, a freshman from Fort Myers, FL, finished the year with 82 catches for 1219 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His 82 receptions rank eighth best in ACC history, second in Clemson history, while his 1219 receiving yards are seventh best in ACC history and the best in Clemson history. His 12 touchdown catches set a Clemson record for a season and tied for the best in the ACC this year.

Mark Buchholz in 2007. Catanzaro led the ACC in total points scored with his 118 this year and he also tied for the ACC lead in field goals with 22. He was 9-12 on field goals of 40 yards or more and his 8.4 points per game ranked second in the ACC.

Da’Quan Bowers led the ACC last year.

From a team standpoint, Clemson led the ACC in passing offense (282.3), was first in first downs per game, touchdown passes (33) total passing yards (3952), total plays (1055), pass attempts (525) total points (470) and total yards gained (6171). The Tigers averaged 282.3 yards per game passing, just the second time Clemson has led the ACC in passing since 1975.

Clemson’s 440.8 yards per game in total offense ranked second in the league behind Georgia Tech, as was Clemson’s 33.6 points per game. Clemson’s 440.8 yards per game established a school record, as did the 6171 yards of total offense. That was the third most yards of total offense in ACC history.