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Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco lead Clemson's wide receivers into 2025 | Plus: Best Tigers WRs of all time

Posted by Staff Report on August 14, 2025 | 5:56 PM

For the longest time, wide receiver play at Clemson seemed like an afterthought, even with talented players like Dwight Clark, Jerry Butler and Perry Tuttle. The program didn’t throw the ball much back in those days, and there really weren’t enough passes to go around for there to be many options.

Yes, a Rod Gardner or a Derrick Hamilton sprinkled in here or there would put up highlight-reel plays. But the excitement has taken off with the offense’s new look under Dabo Swinney, which has showcased wide receivers throughout his tenure.

That transformation started with DeAndre Hopkins, who evolved the position at Clemson, and Sammy Watkins, who lit the program on fire and holds too many records to list. Enter the term “WRU” in Death Valley. And it has carried over to Mike Williams, Tee Higgins, Hunter Renfrow, Artavis Scott and more (and it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon).

The 2025 wide receiver room boasts talents including Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco, TJ Moore, Tyler Brown, Tristan Smith (a transfer! gasp!), Cole Turner and more.

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson wide receivers?

Sammy Watkins (2011-13): First-team All-American, first-round draft pick. Season Receptions Leader (101), Career 100-yd Games Leader (15), 3,391 yards (career leader), 27 TD (career co-leader), 240 receptions.
Mike Williams (2013-16): 177 receptions, 2,727 yards, 21 TDs
DeAndre Hopkins (2010-12): First-round draft pick, 3,020 yards, 27 TD (career co-leader), 206 receptions.
Jerry Butler (1975-78): Ring of Honor. First-team All-American, first-round draft pick. 2,115 yards, 11 TD, 131 receptions.
Artavis Scott (2014-16): 245 receptions (career record), 2,458 yards, 19 TDs
Hunter Renfrow (2015-18): 186 receptions, 2,133 yards, 15 TDs
Perry Tuttle (1978-81): First-team All-American, first-round draft pick. 2,329 yards, 16 TD
Rod Gardner (1997-2000): First-team All-American, first-round draft pick. 2,302 yards, 12 TD
Derrick Hamilton (2001-03): 163 receptions, 2,218 yards, 15 TD
Tee Higgins (2017-19): 135 receptions, 2,448 yards, 27 TDs
Dwight Clark (1976-78): 543 yards, 3 TD

Who are your favorites? Tell us in the comments at YouTube.com/ClemsonKickoff so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

2025 Clemson Football Season Previews with Best-All-Time Tigers by Position

Each podcast episode covers both the season preview and the best all-time Clemson Tigers at each position, while each blogs is shorter and only covers either the best ever or the 2025 preview. Here are all the links you could need!

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Best Clemson tight ends of all time: Bennie Cunningham, Dwayne Allen, more | Plus: Tigers 2025 TE preview

Posted by Staff Report on August 11, 2025 | 10:36 PM

Tight end hasn’t ever really been a focus for Clemson’s program with the focus more on blocking than catching passes. But there have been some talented players who have shined through.

That goes back to Bennie Cunningham in the 1970s, and he made an impact with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well.
Dwayne Allen was a revelation in the early years of the Dabo Swinney years and was one of the most dangerous weapons on those teams.

Jordan Leggett built on what Allen did and was a pivotal part of the 2016 national championship team.
More recently, Jake Briningstool had an outstanding career and is the career tight end receptions leader (127).

In 2025, Olson Patt-Henry and Josh Sapp return with ample experience, while Christian Bentancur and Logan Brooking look to make an impact – with basketball star Ian Schieffelein bringing his athleticism and his 6-8 frame to the team as he tries to aid the cause as well.

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson tight ends?

Bennie Cunningham (1973-75) – First-team all-american (1974), first-round draft pick, 1,044 yards, 10 TD, 64 receptions, led team in receiving in 73 and 74, ACC 50-year anniversary team (2002)
Dwayne Allen (2009-11) – 1,079 yards, 12 TD (8 as a Sr.), 93 receptions, Mackey Award as top tight end, 1AA, Season TE Receptions Co-leader (50)
Jordan Leggett (2013-16) – Career TE TD Receptions (18), 1,598 yards, 18 TD, 112 receptions
Jake Briningstool (2021-24) – Career TE Receptions Leader (127), Season TE Receptions Co-leader (50), 9 rec. In a game, 1,380 yards, 17 TD, 127 receptions
Davis Allen (2019-22) – 951 yards, 12 TD, 88 receptions
Brandon Ford (2009-12) – 728 yards, 12 TD, 65 receptions, 9 rec. In a game
John McMakin (1969-71) – 1,255 yards, 11 TD, 93 receptions, 9 rec. In a game
KD Dunn (1982-84) – 519 yards, 9 TD, 47 rec.
Michael Palmer (2006-09) – 825 yards, 8 TD, 73 rec.

Who are your favorites? Tell us in the comments at YouTube.com/ClemsonKickoff so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

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Best ever Clemson offensive linemen include John Simpson, Joe Bostic -- plus Tigers 2025 season preview

Posted by Staff Report on August 10, 2025 | 5:57 PM

For The Clemson program focused on the running game for many, many years, and even with that being the focus, the offensive linemen have long been overlooked. But there are some names that stand out through the years.

Joe and Jeff Bostic take us back to the 1970s to Tony Berryhill in the 1980s, Stacy Long and Eric Harmon in the 1990s to a recent run of Brandon Thomas, Mitch Hyatt, and Jordan McFadden.

John Simpson was an anchor for the Tigers but took time to develop in the NFL. Yet he received attention from Pro Football Focus this offseason for having raised his game with the New York Jets, his third NFL team in five years, giving up just 20 QB pressures in more than 680 snaps last season – and the 13th highest grade from the site among all NFL guards.

Simpson, Long, Hyatt and Joe Bostic are four of 12 Tigers OLs who have earned first-team All-American honors from major organizations. The rest include Stacy Seegars, Dalton Freeman, Wayne Mass, Harry Olszewski, John Phillips, Dave Thompson, Jeb Flesch – and the lone first-round NFL Draft selection of all these legendary names, Lou Cordileone.

In 2025, four starters return for their second season under Clemson offensive line coach Matt Luke: Tristan Leigh, Blake Miller, Walker Parks and Ryan Linthicum. Expect Harris Sewell, Collin Sadler and Elyjah Thurmon to compete for the fifth starting spot and/or plenty of snaps to end a long drought of rotational depth on the Tigers’ front line. Their ability will be put to the test immediately in the season opener against a typically stout opposing front in LSU, at noon Aug. 30 on ABC/ESPN.

Statistics and more names: Who are the best Clemson offensive linemen?

Joe Bostic (1975-78) – First-team all-american, 2x all-ACC, 50th Anniversary Team ACC
Mitch Hyatt (2015-18) – First-team all-american, Career Snaps by OL (3,754), 89.5 knockdowns in first three seasons (not reported his senior season), 57 starts in 58 games
Stacy Seegars (1990-93) – First-team all-american, 213 knockdowns, 35 starts in 41 games, 2,457 plays
Stacy Long (1986-90) – First-team all-american, 141 knockdowns, 25 starts in 40 games, 1,718 plays
Kyle Young (1998-2001) – Two-time Rimington finalist, 412 knockdown blocks, 40 starts in 47 games, 3,097 snaps, 3x Academic All-American
Lou Cordileone (1957-59) – First-team all-american, 1D
Jeb Flesch (1988-91) – First-team all-american, 267 knockdowns, 45 starts in 48 games, 2,657 plays
John Simpson (2016-19) – 1AA, 29 starts in 50 games, 2,047 plays
John Phillips (1984-87) – First-team all-american, 245 knockdowns, 32 starts in 47 games, 2,330 plays
Jeff Bostic (1976-79) - Clemson Hall of Fame, all-ACC
Tony Berryhill (1978-81) – 1st-team all-ACC, center weighed in at 216 pounds as junior and 230 as senior, ninth-round draft pick
Dalton Freeman (2009-12) – First-team all-american, 171 knockdowns, 49 starts in 53 games, 3,361 plays, 2x Rimington finalist
Wayne Mass (1964-67) – First-team all-american
Harry Olszewski (1965-67) – First-team all-american
Dave Thompson (1968-70) – First-team all-american
Thomas Austin (2006-09) – 316 knockdowns, 39 starts in 48 games, 2,500+ plays

Who are your favorites? Tell us in the comments at YouTube.com/ClemsonKickoff so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

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Clemson's preseason ranking: what could undo the Tigers' high expectations in 2025?

Posted by Staff Report on August 6, 2025 | 6:26 PM

All right, college sports fans -- Clemson's a popular preseason pick and highly ranked, but the few critics out there aren't wrong when they point out that the Tigers' returning players had some significant problems last year. From Cade Klubnik's consistency, to the running game's capability, to the defensive front's ability to fit gaps, to the safeties' ability to defend deep, to the special teams units (except Nolan Hauser) -- and pretty much everybody in between -- we'll cover what Clemson needs to work on if the postseason ranking will look as good as it does now. For extra preseason content, read our blog at ClemsonKickoff.com. Plus don't miss our preseason position-by-position episodes previewing each group for the 2025 season and outlining the best all-time to line up at each spot for Clemson football. We're glad you found us!

We're glad you found us -- be sure to watch on YouTube.com/ClemsonKickoff so you can share your reactions in the comments, and find us on social media @ClemsonKickoff!

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Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco lead Clemson's wide receivers into 2025 | Plus: Best Tigers WRs of all time

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson wide receivers?

2025 Clemson Football Season Previews with Best-All-Time Tigers by Position

Clemson Defensive Tackles

Clemson Defensive Ends

Clemson Linebackers

Clemson Safeties

Clemson Cornerbacks

Clemson Wide Receivers

Clemson Tight Ends

Clemson Offensive Line

Clemson Running Backs

Clemson Quarterbacks

Best Clemson tight ends of all time: Bennie Cunningham, Dwayne Allen, more | Plus: Tigers 2025 TE preview

Statistics: Who are the best Clemson tight ends?

Best ever Clemson offensive linemen include John Simpson, Joe Bostic -- plus Tigers 2025 season preview

Statistics and more names: Who are the best Clemson offensive linemen?

Clemson's preseason ranking: what could undo the Tigers' high expectations in 2025?

Clemson Kickoff