The Clemson football wide receiver core is always one of the best. This year, the Tigers have a chance to be the best unit in the nation.
As we enter the 2019 Clemson football season, there is really only one group of wide receivers that could compare to the Tigers, and that’s Alabama.
Though many believe the Crimson Tide has the better set of wide-outs, there’s plenty of reasons to think that Clemson actually possesses the deeper group, even with an injury.
Here’s a breakdown of the position and what to expect as we head into the summer.
Summer Expectations: Wide Receiver
The Clemson football wide receiver unit possesses the best 1-2 punch in the nation in Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross.
Both wide-outs could be potential first-team All-Americans and, before it’s all said and done, they’ll both be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.
After Higgins and Ross, the Tigers still have plenty of talent. There are veterans like Diondre Overton, Cornell Powell and TJ Chase. There’s also two very talented freshmen in Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson, who will both make a major impact this season.
Throw in a wildcard like Derion Kendrick- who could play and start on offense or defense- and you have a complete WR room.
Right now, I’d expect that Ross and Higgins start at the outside spots and that we see a platoon at the slot between Overton, Powell, Chase and even Kendrick.
Expect the wide receivers to continue to work on chemistry and route-running this coming season. They’ll be without Hunter Renfrow, who was the most consistent wide receiver on the team the past couple of seasons, so they’ll need a few guys to step up and become safety blankets for Trevor Lawrence in 3rd down and moderate situations.
That’s the main area of concern, but there’s no reason to believe that this group will be anything short of phenomenal in 2019.