Clemson Football: Will Derion Kendrick make immediate impact?

2018 Clemson football freshman Derion Kendrick is already on campus. Could he make an immediate impact for #WRU this season?

2018 Clemson football freshman Derion Kendrick committed to the Tigers back in January 2017. Since then, he’s been 100 percent All-In to being a Tiger.

A year later and Kendrick is on campus ready to get to work for Clemson football.

Kendrick enters the program as a 5-star and part of a top-10 recruiting class for Dabo Swinney and his staff.

While many have their eyes on talented athletes like Trevor Lawrence, Xavier Thomas, KJ Henry, and Justyn Ross, could it be that Derion Kendrick is the most ready to make an impact from day one?

Ridiculous Athleticism:

The first thing I think about when I watch Derion Kendrick on the football field is his ridiculous athleticism.

Kendrick led South Pointe to its fourth-straight state title his senior year as a quarterback. In the Class 4A state championship game, Kendrick absolutely tore opponent Hartsville up on the way to a 38-14 win.

He finished with 119 yards rushing, 124 yards passing, and accounted for four touchdowns. In the US Army All-American Game he had a pair of receptions for 21 yards and made an impressive 17-yard gain on a rush.

All week, he proved to be a force to be reckoned with and continued to shine in the Army All-American game.

Immediate Impact?

It’s tough for any freshman to come in and make an impact right away. When I watch Kendrick’s film, he reminds me of Deon Cain.

The difference is the fact that he’s a little taller and more mature than Cain was his freshman season. I think Kendrick has all the tools- athleticism, foot work, catching ability intangibles- to come in and compete.

Next: 2018 Early Position Outlook: Tight End

He will most likely play the “field” receiver role, which will put him in competition with the likes of Amari Rodgers and Cornell Powell for snaps. It will be interesting to watch, but keep your eye on DK Kendrick as spring practice gets underway in the next month.