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Clemson football: Three position groups with the most to prove in 2021

By Jeff Benedict

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers waits for the snap during a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on September 14, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers waits for the snap during a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on September 14, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Cordale Flott #25 of the LSU Tigers breaks up a pass intended for Justyn Ross #8 of the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Wide Receiver

Yes, Clemson football has become “Wide Receiver U” and has helped guide a lot of young men to the NFL at their position, but they have slipped a little in recent years.

Under Dabo Swinney (and Jeff Scott), only three former Clemson football receivers have been drafted in the first round – DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, and Mike Williams. Matter of fact, the only other Tigers wide receiver taken before the fourth round under Swinney was Tee Higgins last year.

Neither Cornell Powell nor Amari Rodgers will hear their names called in the first three rounds in 2021, no NFL combine really hurt their abilities to build off of the Senior Bowl.

That said, this group has a lot to prove in 2021.

Not only do they have to find a way to replace the production from Powell and Rodgers, but they have to replace their leadership, which is going to be very difficult.

It is easy to say that Justyn Ross will be the 2018 version or that both Frank Ladson Jr and Joseph Ngata will have bounce-back years after battling injuries in 2020, but none of that is guaranteed.

Fact is, we have no idea what Justyn Ross will look like after major neck surgery and if we are being truthful, Ross, Ngata, and Ladson have all been highly inconsistent on the field. When you compare them to guys like Nuk, Sammy, and Williams, there is no comparison. We knew that those three were elite talents because they showed it every week their entire career at Clemson – Ross, Ngata, and Ladson have not.

Young guys like E.J. Williams and Ajou Ajou bring a level of intrigue as they could end up being the best two in the receiver room.

Williams showed a ton of growth in 2021 and will be a favorite target of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in 2021. Ajou was really raw in 2020 as American football is still really new to him, which should scare a lot of people. Another offseason that will include a full spring practice will do amazing things for him.

There is no doubt that talent oozes from the Clemson football receiver group but can they be consistent in 2021 like Powell and Rodgers were in 2020?

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