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Clemson Football: One to Watch – Adam Randall

By Marty Coleman

Clemson wide receiver Adam Randall (8) runs near wide receiver Dacari Collins (3) in a drill during Spring practice in Clemson, S.C. Friday, March 4, 2022.Clemson Spring Football Practice March 4
Clemson wide receiver Adam Randall (8) runs near wide receiver Dacari Collins (3) in a drill during Spring practice in Clemson, S.C. Friday, March 4, 2022.Clemson Spring Football Practice March 4 /
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For a Clemson football wide receiver to be compared to Sammy Watkins at any point in his career is a huge compliment.

Watkins burst on to the scene on as a true freshman back in 2011 and ended that season with 82 receptions for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns.

For Dabo Swinney, Adam Randall fits into the very select group.

"“Sammy, (Justyn) Ross, and Beaux Collins, that’s the three guys that showed up here. And when I say ready, I’m talking about fundamentally, technically, physically, mentally just get it like it’s second nature, release techniques, you name it, just ready."

That’s some company to be in and while Swinney is not saying that Randall will be as good as Watkins was a freshman, he’s also indicating that Randall is prepared to contribute in a big way this fall.

Ross, of course, reached 1,000 yards as a freshman on the 2018 National Championship team on just 46 catches (21.7 average), but really burst into the national conversation in the College Football Playoff and National Championship Game.

Considering the struggles of the offense, Beaux Collins had a good freshman season in 2021 finishing second on the team in receptions (31) for 407 yards and 3 touchdowns.

While many freshmen receivers need time to adjust to the college game, Swinney says Randall is not one.

"“He’s rare. I mean, I don’t know about you, I didn’t see many guys at Pelham High School walking the halls looking like that,” Swinney said. “I mean, yeah. He’s bigger than Sammy (Watkins). Sammy was a physical specimen, but he’s just bigger. I mean, literally, you could put him in the NFL locker room anywhere in the country and you’d never pick him out."

The first step is to see how Randall looks in the Spring Game on April 9, but that’s just a step in the process in my mind.

The real test will be when the games begin in the fall and how Randall handles the atmosphere and speed of the game.

It’s one thing to be physically ready and look the part, it’s another to put that to work in actual games and not only be productive, but to be a star.

Watkins did that “right out of the box”, as did Ross over the course of his freshman season. Collins showed he’s capable.

This fall it’s Adam Randall’s turn.

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