If there ever was a time for Javon McKinley to be a leader for Notre Dame’s receiving corps, it will have to be against Clemson. Despite having the most yards out of that group, he still has not scored a touchdown this season. On the flip side, he’s been key in helping the Irish reach the end zone more than doing so itself, which is valuable for any football team. It just so happens that the one for the Irish has more production than might be expected for that particular player.
The Tigers clearly have the edge in this category via Amari Rodgers. He has nearly triple the receptions and more than double the receiving yards of McKinley, not to mention his six touchdowns. Even without Trevor Lawrence, there’s no reason to think Rodgers won’t have close to his normal production while catching passes from D.J. Uiagalelei. If the Irish’s defense lets him get free, it could be a long night for the home team.