As we inch closer to the season opener, I will continue to break down each position group. Today, we'll look at the wide receivers.
Clemson has been known as "WRU" for the last decade. Clemson and Ohio State are tied for the most receivers drafted by the NFL since 2013. Throughout the Tigers' 6-year playoff run, a common denominator was always a talented and deep receiver room with consistent play-makers. However, over the last 2 seasons, the receiver position has been a weakness instead of a strength--in part due to a plague of injuries--and it's no coincidence that the offense has struggled and the Tigers have missed the playoff for two straight seasons. Albeit, they would have made it last year if not for a fluke one-point loss to the Gamecocks, ending one of the longest home win streaks of all time.
The Tigers might look like "WRU" again this season if they can stay healthy for the most part--again, something that has plagued them over the last two seasons. In 2021, Beaux Collins was a freshman and relied upon more than a freshman should be, resulting in many drops. Last season, he battled injuries. He's a junior now, looks fantastic physically, and could have a breakout season as one of the premier receivers in the ACC. Sophomore Antonio Williams is the perfect complement to Collins. He isn't a tall, 50/50 ball type receiver like Collins, but he is fast, a good route runner and has great hands. He had an outstanding freshman campaign last year and should be even better this season. Cole Turner, younger brother of former Clemson safety Nolan Turner, red-shirted last season but was able to play in post-season games, and he demonstrated why Dabo had been talking about him since last summer. He might be the fastest player on the team and has great hands, like you'd expect from a basketball player. He's put on some much-needed muscle in the offseason, and one would expect him to be much improved after 8 more months of learning the position. I saw him make a couple nice catches in practice this month.
Those are your three starters. Behind them are sophomore Adam Randall and graduate Brannon Spector. The coaches were raving about Randall in his first spring as a true freshman, but then he tore his ACL. He played sparingly last season after rehabbing his knee, but was never able to consistently show brilliance we heard about. With a whole healthy offseason under his belt, this could be his breakout season like Antonio Williams had last year. Spector has been a reliable backup slot receiver and will continue to be behind Williams. Then there is redshirt sophomore Troy Stellato, who Dabo keeps telling us is as talented as anybody they've got, but he's never seen the field because he's always injured. He was ranked as high as the No.120 player overall coming out of high school, but after just 23 snaps in two games, he suffered a season-ending injury in 2021. Then, just when he was looking great in 2022 fall camp, he was injured again and missed the entire season. As Dabo always says, the most important ability is availability. Let's hope Stellato is finally available this season!
The next tier of receivers would be the freshmen. Noble Johnson from Texas, Tyler Brown from Greenville, Ronan Hanafin from Massachusetts and "Tink" Kelley from Daniel have all flashed at times during camp. Hopefully, none of them will be pressed into service, but if they are, they can hold their own. And, of course, the Tigers have some very capable walk-ons as well, like Hampton Earle and Hamp Greene.
Between this group of talented, experienced receivers and the Tigers' dynamic run game with Shipley, Mafah and Klubnik, we should see the offensive numbers we were used to prior to 2021. I will continue to break down each position group in the coming days leading up to kickoff, so stay tuned!
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