In a game that left Clemson fans stunned, freshman receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. still gave Tiger Nation a glimpse of the future. His 73-yard catch-and-run late in the first half electrified the sideline and reminded everyone why he was one of the crown jewels of Clemson’s recruiting class.
“I just had a simple route, caught the ball and took off,” Wesco said. “I saw a great block by T.J. Moore—he’s the main reason why I scored. As soon as I turned upfield, he got his guy, and that’s all I needed.”
For a few moments, Death Valley roared with the kind of energy that once defined Clemson football. But as Wesco admitted later, that single flash wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
The Sting of Missed Opportunities
Wesco’s joy in the open field was quickly tempered by the frustration of missed chances. He owned a key third-down drop and recognized how those small lapses continue to define Clemson’s struggles.
“Yeah, just not focused enough,” Wesco said bluntly. “We’re real close. The two games we lost all came down to one score, one play. I feel like I didn’t make those plays that needed to be made in order to help us finish. That’s something I need to work on—being that guy in those moments.”
It’s a rare level of accountability for a freshman, but one that underscores how badly Clemson’s young playmakers want to turn things around.
Locker Room Resilience
The emotions in the locker room were raw. The sight of Georgia Tech fans rushing the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium after the win was salt in the wound.
“No one feels great after a loss,” Wesco admitted. “You just gotta take it on the chin and move on. We’re going to go in this week, see what we did wrong, and improve. This game’s in the past—can’t go back and change it.”
Despite the pain, Wesco insisted the group remains resilient.
“Even when we were down 10, no one gave up,” he said. “Same thing last week against Troy. You all saw it—we fought until the end. If a couple plays go our way, we’re 3-0. That’s what we’ve got to figure out—how to finish.”
Searching for Explosiveness
For a program long defined by explosive plays, Clemson’s offense has been grinding instead of striking. Wesco acknowledged that reality but insisted the answers are already in the playbook.
“Those explosive plays are there—we just have to capitalize,” Wesco said. “We’ve got to catch the ball, finish those routes, and execute. Once we do, we’ll be one of the best teams in the nation.”
The challenge, as he sees it, is starting fast with confidence instead of waiting for desperation to spark urgency.
Blocking Out the Noise
At 1-2, with high expectations now colliding with a harsh reality, the outside criticism has only grown louder. Wesco’s answer: tune it out.
“Negativity is going to come,” he said. “But we just focus on us. The standard is the same. We’ve got to play like Clemson—finishing games, playing with confidence, and living up to what this program has always been.”
Bryant Wesco Jr. proved Saturday he has the speed, skill, and poise to become Clemson’s next star. But in his own words, being “close” isn’t good enough. For the Tigers to salvage this season, their young playmaker knows he’ll have to be part of the solution.