In its 12th season under head coach Frank Howard, the team compiled a 7–3 record (3–1 against conference opponents), finished fifth in the Southern Conference, was tied with Holy Cross at No.
19 in the final AP Poll, lost to Miami (FL) in the 1952 Gator Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 196 to 97.
[1][2] The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
[3] Billy Hair and Glenn Smith were selected as first-team players on the 1951 All-Southern Conference football team.
[4] Four Clemson players were named to the All-South Carolina football team for 1951: Hair, Smith, tackle Bob Patton, and guard Dan DiMucci.