For the last decade or so, Clemson football fans and players alike have considered the team’s wide receivers among the best in the nation and it was a well earned moniker.
The names roll off the tongue of most Tiger fans: Hopkins, Watkins, Williams and Humphries.
For many, the struggles on offense in 2021 lay squarely at the feet of one player: Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and I’m guessing D.J. would say he didn’t play well.
But Uiagalelei was far from the only problem on offense, whether you care to believe it or not. The offensive line struggled and the wide receivers were often injured and ineffective when on the field.
How ineffective, you ask? The highest ranked of the group was Justyn Ross at number 194. Joseph Ngata (430), Decari Collins (477) and Beaux Collins (482) were even lower.
I’ve said it before and I’ll reiterate this point: The PFF.com ratings are not the be all and end all of evaluations – they’re just another tool in the box.
Having said that, seeing the main returning Clemson wide outs in the 400s in these ratings is a bit jarring.
If you’re wondering about E.J. Williams, he didn’t play enough snaps to be placed in the rankings, but his overall rating and receiving rating were the lowest on the team, with his run blocking a couple spots higher.
Staying healthy is the first step in the Clemson football wide receivers regaining the Wide Receiver U moniker, but there is work to be done
There is good news though. The group is healthy, and according to wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham, hungry.
"“I’m hungry. Our guys are hungry to show what we’re about and to live up to that standard at Clemson and what we’ve done all those years,” Grisham said. “You’ll see it this year, there’s no doubt in my mind.”"
True freshman Adam Randall is still working his way back from a torn ACL and fellow true freshman Antonio Williams will hopefully contribute.
Being healthy is the first step in reclaiming the Wide Receiver U tag, but even if the group remains healthy throughout the season, there’s still plenty of room for improvement on the field.