As discussions are swirling about the offensive line and quarterback, there’s one piece of that Clemson roster that national analysts are set to crown: wide receivers.
CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford announced he released his top 10 deepest wide receiver rooms in college football on Wednesday, and the Tigers landed just behind Ohio State and Texas, finishing at a blistering No. 3. And in an ACC that is increasingly being crowded with talent, Clemson is the leader with conference rivals Miami (No. 5) and Florida State (No. 9) trailing closely.
The ranking is anchored by what many consider the most talented junior tandem in the nation; Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore. It’s been two seasons since those two players have completely rewritten the norms for young wideouts in Death Valley. Combined for 169 receptions, 2,733 yards and 20 touchdowns, they were the engine that propelled Clemson’s 2024 ACC title and playoff appearance.
Wesco Jr. is entering 2026 to be the No. 1 deep threat, following a season when he was the fourth player in program history to hit 1,000 career yards in his first 15 games.
Moore has established himself as an elite perimeter weapon who has joined the likes of Sammy Watkins and Justyn Ross as one of the only Tigers to record 650+ yards in his freshman season.
“New Clemson play-caller Chad Morris has two potential first-round picks at wide receiver,” Crawford wrote, as the offensive coordinator Chad Morris faces new pressure to find unique ways to keep his stars going as well.
If the star talent can get the headlines, then the 2026 X-factor might yet be in the spotlight. Tyler Brown, a former Freshman All-American, is seeking a big "bounce-back" year. After leading the team in catches as a freshman last season, Brown has struggled in the last two seasons with a nagging ankle injury that forced him to go back to the office and redshirt his career.
Now full-blown healthy and returning to his "twitchy" state, Brown is a frightful third choice for opposing defensive coordinators. The “Formula One” Freshmen.
And the depth is not limited to the veterans. Clemson’s 2026 signing class have been called “Formula One” because of its track-star speed. Naeem Burroughs in top-50 national recruit, Swinney says he's "as good as anybody in the country."
Connor Salmin: A “rocket” who could well be the fastest one on the roster already.
Gordon Sellars: A big-bodied playmaker who is an irreplaceable rotation piece and adds a bit of size and range with every rotation member.
With the career-champion Tristan Smith set to earn an additional year (assuming NCAA eligibility) from a previous rotation and incoming talent Connor Salmin and Gordon Sellars seeking reps, the Tigers wide receiver room is as vast as it has been since 2016-2018 finals season.