Tag: Clemson NFL

Hunter Renfrow linked to this NFL team in free agency

Hunter Renfrow’s name has been linked to this NFL team in recent days.

Former Clemson standout Hunter Renfrow remains unsigned after NFL training camps opened last month, but the free agent receiver has seen his name connected to one team in particular this past week.

Talk in some online circles has centered on the New York Jets adding another free agent target to their roster — specifically at slot receiver — to complement outside threats Garrett Wilson. Allen Lazard and Mike Williams, a teammate of Renfrow’s at Clemson.

Thomas Christopher of Jets X-Factor recently shared his belief that the Jets should look to Renfrow as that target.

“Renfrow broke out with the Raiders in 2021, finishing with 1,038 yards on 103 catches. ‘Third and Renfrow’ proved to be one of the most reliable third down options in the NFL. From 2020 to 2021, the Clemson product had a 124.6 passer rating when targeted on third downs, which was good for fifth-best in the NFL over that span. On top of that, his 86.2 percent catch rate on third downs ranked first in the NFL.

Adding a receiver with prowess on “money downs” would create excellent opportunities within the Jets offense. That type of reliability would be something quarterback Aaron Rodgers would approve of, too.”

With the Jets in win-now mode, Athlon Sports also weighed in with their belief that Renfrow would make sense for New York, who saw the injury bug hit second-year receiver Xavier Gipson last week. Gipson suffered a leg injury last Thursday and will be out “a week or two” according to coach Robert Saleh.

Renfrow was drafted in the fifth round by the Raiders in 2019 and became a free agent after last season. In four years at Clemson from 2015-18, Renfrow caught 186 passes for 2,133 yards and 15 touchdowns in 55 games.

He caught the game-winning touchdown with 1 second left in the Tigers’ 35-31 victory over Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in January 2017.

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Carolina Panthers returning to Clemson for practice, fan fest

The Carolina Panthers will hold their annual fan fest at Clemson Memorial Stadium on August 1.

It’s been almost 30 years since the year of the “Clemson Panthers.”

The Carolina Panthers are headed into their 30th NFL season in 2024. As such, they’re returning to Clemson.

The Panthers, who began their inaugural season as an expansion team in 1995, played all home games that season at Clemson Memorial Stadium before moving into their current venue in Charlotte in 1996.

Almost 30 years later, the Panthers are returning to Death Valley for their annual Fan Fest, to be held August 1. The team will host a practice at Clemson Memorial Stadium as part of the festivities.

“As we head into our 30th season, we’re looking forward to bringing football to our fans across the Carolinas this summer, including going to Clemson where it all began,” Panthers team president Kristi Coleman said in a statement. “From bringing Training Camp to Charlotte to honoring our South Carolina ties by hosting Fan Fest at Clemson, we are excited to celebrate our fans across both states.”

Added Clemson athletic director Graham Neff: “We are honored to play a part in the Panthers celebration of their 30th season by hosting Fan Fest in Memorial Stadium, site of the franchise’s inaugural season. Clemson University and the Panthers’ organization share many connections, and we’re excited to collaborate on this unique opportunity.”

The Panthers went 7-9 in 1995, defeating the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts at Clemson Memorial Stadium.

That same year, Clemson finished 8-3 in the regular season under head coach Tommy West. The Tigers earned a bid to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, losing 41-0 to Syracuse on New Year’s Day 1996. Donovan McNabb, then a freshman with the Orangemen, threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns in Syracuse’s victory.

More information on how to purchase tickets for the Panthers’ annual fan event can be found here.

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Dexter Lawrence leads former Clemson stars in top 100 NFL player rankings

Dexter Lawrence was the highest-ranked defensive tackle in CBS Sports’ list.

Three former Clemson Tigers made CBS Sports’ annual rankings of the top 100 NFL players headed into the 2024 season.

Leading the way was New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, ranked by veteran NFL analyst Pete Prisco as the No. 19 overall player in the league.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who will begin his fourth season with the club, ranked second highest among former Tiger athletes.

Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, set to begin his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders after departing Miami in free agency, also made the list.

Dexter Lawrence had a monster season for the Giants in 2023, recording 53 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two pass deflections. He is the highest ranked defensive tackle on Prisco’s top 100 list.

“He is a massive man in the middle of the New York defense who makes it tough to run inside. But he is also a power pass rusher inside who can really push the pocket, which makes him far more than just a one-dimensional run stuffer,” Prisco wrote of Lawrence, who was ranked as the No. 34 best player by Prisco heading into 2023.

Next on Prisco’s list was Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars’ franchise quarterback recently signed a massive contract extension for five years, reportedly at $275 million.

But Trevor Lawrence ranks far behind Dexter Lawrence on Prisco’s list after suffering through injuries a season ago. Lawrence missed his first NFL start due to a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the Jaguars’ Week 17 game against the Carolina Panthers last year.

Lawrence suffered one of the biggest drops in Prisco’s annual rankings, going from No. 23 this time last year to No. 62 this offseason. Prisco wrote that he expected great things from the Jaguars’ quarterback in a bounce-back 2024 season, however.

“His 2023 season was a disappointment for a lot of reasons, including injury. He threw 21 touchdown passes and 14 picks as he pressed at times. I think he bounces back — with a hefty new contract — and has an MVP-type of season that will vault him up this list,” Prisco said of Lawrence.

The last Clemson player to appear in Prisco’s top 100 shouldn’t come as a surprise. Wilkins had an impressive 2023 season with the Miami Dolphins that included 65 tackles (38 solo), 10 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two pass deflections and a forced fumble.

Wilkins parlayed that into a four-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders. He ranks No. 78 on Prisco’s list of top 100 players.

“He is a disruptive inside player who signed with the Raiders after five impressive seasons with the Dolphins. He has the ability to pressure inside, while also being good against the run,” Prisco wrote of Wilkins.

Other notable rankings on Prisco’s top 100 list include reigning Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Maholmes at No. 1. Buffalo’s Josh Allen was the second highest ranked quarterback at No. 6 overall.

At the defensive tackle position, Prisco ranked the New York Jets’ Quinnen Williams as the second best tackle behind Dexter Lawrence. Williams ranks 10 spots behind Lawrence at No. 29.

Three former Clemson players made Prisco’s list of honorable mentions outside the top 100. In no particular order, those players were wide receivers Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals) and DeAndre Hopkins (Tennessee Titans), and Jaguars running back Travis Etienne.

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Tee Higgins will sign franchise tag, remain with Cincinnati Bengals for 2024

Former Clemson receiver Tee Higgins will sign the franchise tag and return to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2024 season.

Any hopes Clemson fans might have had for a Trevor Lawrence-Tee Higgins reunion with the Jacksonville Jaguars are over for now.

Citing sources, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday that the Cincinnati Bengals receiver would sign the franchise tag and return to the Bengals for a fifth season.

Higgins will earn $21.8 million with the Bengals this season under the franchise tag. The two sides can still negotiate on a long-term deal until July 15.

Back in March, Schefter and others reported that Higgins had requested a trade from the Bengals after being unsatisfied that the franchise had not offered him a long-term contract extension beyond 2025.

Lawrence, who just received a five-year, $275 million contract extension from the Jaguars earlier this week, said during Super Bowl week in February that he would welcome a reunion with Higgins in Jacksonville, if the opportunity ever presented itself.

Higgins appeared in 12 games a year ago in a 9-8 season that saw the Bengals miss the playoffs after previously winning the AFC North in back-to-back seasons. The former Clemson star was sidelined with injuries, making 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns.

Higgins posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Bengals in 2021-22, totaling 74 receptions both seasons.

The Bengals drafted Higgins in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft after a decorated collegiate career at Clemson. In his final season with the Tigers, Higgins had 59 receptions for 1,167 yards and 13 touchdowns.

In 2018, he caught 59 passes for 936 yards and 12 touchdowns. Clemson won its second national championship in three years that season, defeating Alabama 44-16 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Higgins started all 15 games at receiver in both 2018 and 2019. His 27 career receiving touchdowns are tied for the most in Clemson history with DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins.

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Eight former Clemson players have chance to reach Super Bowl

A look at the number of former Clemson players who have a shot at reaching the Super Bowl heading into Championship Sunday in the NFL.

Heading into Championship Sunday in the NFL, three of the league’s remaining four teams with Super Bowl aspirations feature former Clemson players.

The Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers all have at least two former Tigers on their respective rosters. Only the Detroit Lions don’t feature an ex-Tiger among the teams hoping to earn a Super Bowl ring when Super Bowl LVIII is played next month at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

All told, eight former Clemson players are spread across the rosters of the Ravens, Chiefs and 49ers. That includes Ray-Ray McLeod, the 49ers’ receiver and a return man on special teams.

McLeod had one catch for seven yards in San Francisco’s 24-21 come-from-behind victory over Green Bay last Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. He also returned one kickoff for 23 yards. McLeod played three years at Clemson from 2015-2017 and was part of the 2016 National Championship team.

Clelin Ferrell is a teammate of McLeod’s. The defensive end saw the field for all but one game this season. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 49ers’ Week 18 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Additionally, former Clemson DL Austin Bryant is a member of the 49ers’ practice squad.

Trayvon Mullen, Trenton Simpson and John Simpson are all members of the Ravens, who face the Chiefs Sunday.

John Simpson has started all 18 games at left guard for the Ravens this season. Trenton Simpson played in only six games this season but had a promising outing for Baltimore against Pittsburgh in Week 18. The 2023 third-round draft pick notched his first career NFL sack to go with seven tackles, including two tackles for a loss.

Mullen suffered a season-ending injury in training camp in August. The former Tigers cornerback earned two national championship rings while at Clemson in 2016 and 2018.

Kansas City’s roster features former Tigers standout receiver Justyn Ross, who has appeared in 10 games and caught six passes for 53 yards. Cornell Powell, a former Clemson receiver, is a member of the Chiefs’ practice squad.

The Chiefs-Ravens tilt is set for a 3 p.m. EST kickoff at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium. The game will be televised by CBS. Lions-49ers is scheduled to follow at 6:30 EST and will be televised by FOX.