Much has been made of the fact that Clemson was the only power conference program in the nation to have no transfers on its 2024 roster. While Dabo Swinney has been slow to jump into the portal fray and downright stubborn in his insistence on building his program the way he always has, through the high school ranks, it appears that the Tigers are at least kicking the tires on a pair of big-time wide receiver transfers this offseason.
It is being reported that Tulsa's Joseph Williams and Florida International's Eric Rivers have heard from the Tigers since the transfer portal opened on Monday. That leads fans to believe that Clemson might be looking to upgrade the talent at wide receiver via the portal this offseason.
Williams is a 6-foot-2 wide receiver who caught 30 passes for 588 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman this year. The Texas native was one the top freshmen pass-catchers in the country this season despite being just a 3-star recruit in high school who had no offers from power conference programs.
A look at all schools who’ve contacted Portal WR Joseph Williams ( @JosephWQB1 ) so far.
— Steezo (@SteezoDsgn) December 10, 2024
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Joseph Williams is a 6’2 (195 LBS) Wide Receiver out of Arlington, TX. Williams was one of the best True Freshman in the nation this season. At Tulsa this season he won Freshman of the… pic.twitter.com/DV4bkK7adA
In a social media graphic posted to X on Tuesday, Williams lists over 40 schools (including Clemson) that have reached out to him thus far. So it appears there is quite a bit of competition for his services.
The same can be said of Rivers. In another social media post, this one by Hayes Fawcett of On3Sports, 43 programs are reported to have contacted him about potentially joining their ranks.
FIU standout WR Eric Rivers has heard from these 4️⃣3️⃣ Schools since entering the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 10, 2024
The 5’11 175 WR totaled 62 Receptions for 1,172 Yards & 12 TDs this season
Finished the season Top 5 in CFB in receiving yards & TDs https://t.co/7gDQ5CTCNy pic.twitter.com/qdrGQUPizg
This season as a junior, he caught 62 passes for 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led Conference USA in yards and TDs and now he's looking for a new home.
However, one has to wonder why wide receiver might be high on Clemson's priority list in the portal. That's because the team's two top receivers from 2024 are set to return next season.
Antonio Williams who leads the team this year with 71 catches for 838 yards and 10 touchdowns is just a redshirt sophomore. What's more, true freshman Bryant Wesco Jr. emerged as a pass-catching threat in his first year of college football with 38 catches for 678 yards and five touchdowns. He has also averaged an impressive 17.8 yards per catch.
Even with Williams and Wesco Jr. in the mix for the long term, though, it appears that Clemson is trying to improve its wide receiver room via the portal. It's a fascinating development for a program that hasn't utilized that means of talent acquisition the way almost every other program in America has in recent years.