Clemson Football: Freshmen who will likely redshirt in 2023

Ronan Hanafin

• Number: 15
• Position: Wide Receiver
• Height: 6’-3”
• Weight: 210 pounds
• High School: Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
• Hometown: Burlington, Massachusetts
• 247Sports Rating: 4-star
• 247Sports Ranking: 220th

Hanafin is a different specimen from most wide receivers. In high school, receivers often play two ways as a cornerback or a safety. Hanafin played two ways as a linebacker.

There has even been speculation from some fans that he might put some time in on the defensive side due to the departure of TJ Dudley, leaving only six scholarship linebackers on the roster in 2023, but there doesn’t appear to be any truth to that.

While fellow 2023 commit Tyler Brown has made some noise in camp because of his speed (and the relative lack of speed in the wide receiver room), Hanafin doesn’t necessarily bring anything that the team doesn’t already have in other more experienced players.

The caveat is that those other more experienced players must go on the field and prove themselves because most of them haven’t to date. Additionally, we don’t know yet who will take quickly to Garrett Riley’s system and play calling.

For example, if the experienced players can’t figure out how to block, and Hanafin quickly learns to put his linebacker body in front of defenders, he might find his way onto the field earlier than expected.

I’m leaning towards a redshirt for Hanafin, but it is by no means a slam dunk.