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Clemson Football: Three questions about the wide receivers

By John Chancey

Nov 26, 2022; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson wide receiver Beaux Collins (80), left, head coach Dabo Swinney and wide receiver Drew Swinney (81) join in with the team for the Walk of Champions before the game between South Carolina and Clemson at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson wide receiver Beaux Collins (80), left, head coach Dabo Swinney and wide receiver Drew Swinney (81) join in with the team for the Walk of Champions before the game between South Carolina and Clemson at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports /
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For a few years, Clemson Football featured DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant, Mike Williams, Hunter Renfrow, and Tee Higgins. Some fans became fond of calling Clemson ‘Wide Receiver U’.

The promise of a great 2018 freshman campaign by Justyn Ross and multiple highly ranked prospects from California, South Florida, and Nick Saban’s backyard in Alabama had Tiger fans convinced the train would keep rolling.

Then Ross learned of a medical situation that required him to step away from football for a year. The exciting prospects either never lived up to expectations or transferred out when they were passed by on the depth chart by younger players.

Now, there are more questions than answers about the wide receivers. During the offseason, Clemson made a change at offensive coordinator. They will have a new starting quarterback in 2023. The receiver room, however, didn’t get the makeover some fans had hoped for.

Instead, our main hope is that this group responds well to the new scheme introduced by Garrett Riley, and they find the chemistry needed with new starting quarterback Cade Klubnik. There are likely to be more four-receiver sets this season, and players won’t switch sides depending on where the ball is placed between the hash marks.

Here are the roster expectations as we approach fall camp.

  • Expected starters: Beaux Collins (Jr), Antonio Williams (So), Adam Randall (So), and Cole Turner (RS Fr)
  • Depth: Brannon Spector (RS Sr), Troy Stellato (RS So), Noble Johnson (FR), Tyler Brown (Fr), Ronan Hanafin (Fr), Misun Kelley (Fr)
  • Walk-ons: Hamp Greene (RS Sr), Davian Sullivan (RS Sr), Hampton Earle (RS Sr), Blackmon Huckabee Jr. (RS Jr), Jackson Crosby (RS So), Zach Jackson (RS So), Michael Mankaka (RS Fr), Clay Swinney (RS Fr), Charlie Johnson (Fr), Tristan Martinez (Fr)

Here are three questions about the wide receivers.

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