Tag: frank ladson

A closer look: Clemson’s receivers vs. Georgia’s secondary

With Clemson’s mammoth opener against Georgia less than two weeks away, The Clemson Insider is going to spend some time taking a closer look at some of the position matchups that could go a long way in determining the outcome of that Sept. 4 clash …

With Clemson’s mammoth opener against Georgia less than two weeks away, The Clemson Insider is going to spend some time taking a closer look at some of the position matchups that could go a long way in determining the outcome of that Sept. 4 clash at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Next up is Clemson’s receivers against Georgia’s secondary. TCI previously analyzed matchups between the Tigers’ offensive line and the Bulldogs’ defensive front and vice versa.

Note: If only one number is listed in parentheses beside a player’s name, that means that player hasn’t started a game. The number listed is how many career games he has played. If no numbers are listed for a player, he has yet to play a game.

Clemson’s projected receiver rotation: Justyn Ross, Jr (29 games played, 14 starts); Joseph Ngata, Jr (22, 3); Frank Ladson Jr., Jr (25, 4); E.J. Williams, Soph (12, 4); Ajou Ajou, Soph (10); Brannon Spector, Soph (14, 1); Dacari Collins, Fr; Beaux Collins, Fr

A deep receiving corps added more depth and an injection of top-line talent with the return of Ross, who received full medical clearance earlier this summer following his corrective spinal fusion surgery that cost him all of the 2020 season.

A 6-foot-4, 205-pound wideout with the speed and ball skills to boot, Ross is a first-round talent with big-play capabilities when he’s at full tilt as shown by his 1,865 receiving yards and 17 scoring grabs in his first two seasons at Clemson. Ross missed the first week of fall camp going through COVID-19 protocols, so will less than three weeks of full contact be enough to have him up to speed for his first game action in more than a year?

According to Ross, it will, and the early returns on his practice reps have been positive. But it’s not like Ross is the only wideout Georgia will have to game plan for.

Like Ross, Ngata is a former five-star recruit while Ladson drew rave reviews from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney for his camp performance. Both are expected to take on larger roles within the offense this fall after combining for just 51 career catches so far as long as they can stay healthy, which has already been a recurring issue for Ngata. He battled a hamstring injury during camp and missed both of the Tigers’ scrimmages, though Swinney said late last week Ngata was close to being back at full speed.

Williams is another potential breakout candidate for the Tigers after stepping in to make four starts as a true freshman and finishing last season with 24 catches. The same could be said for Ajou, who coaches and teammates are high on. Dacari Collins and Beaux Collins were both four-star signees who were also mentioned as playmakers during camp, so offensive coordinator Tony Elliott has no shortage of options and lineups to play with out wide.  

Georgia’s projected starting defensive backs

CB Derion Kendrick, Sr. (24, 23 at Clemson the last two seasons)

SS Christopher Smith, Sr (29, 5)

FS Lewis Cine, Jr (24, 12)

CB Ameer Speed, Sr (35) or Kelee Ringo, RFr

NICKEL Latavious Brini, Sr (17, 1)

Clemson’s receivers are already somewhat familiar with what the Bulldogs have to offer in the secondary — and vice versa — with Kendrick now suiting up for the Bulldogs. An all-ACC first-team selection last season, Kendrick spent the previous three seasons at Clemson before being dismissed from the team and landing at Georgia, where he’ll line up against the receivers he used to practice against on a daily basis.

Kendrick is joining a secondary that isn’t exactly green. Every projected starter on the Bulldogs’ back end is an upperclassmen with three of them being seniors, including Speed, who will likely step into a starting role for the first time at the other corner spot after spending most of his first four seasons in Athens as a special-teams contributor.

Georgia added even more experience to the group in West Virginia transfer Tykee Smith. An AP All-American last season, Smith has been heavily in the mix for the starting job at nickel, but he recently sustained a foot injury that required surgery and likely won’t be available for the opener.

That would put Brini at the top of the depth chart there by default, though he’s not a newbie either. Cine, a preseason all-SEC pick at safety, started every game last season while Smith started the last five.

The matchup

This one is interesting for a few reasons.

First, the units have similar experience in that both at least have at least one player (Ross for Clemson and Kendrick and Cine for Georgia) with a season’s worth of starting experience and a bunch of others that have been biding their time. And then there’s the size. A lot of it.

The majority of Clemson’s receivers are at least 6-3 with Dacari Collins being the tallest at 6-5. Ross has gotten most of his game reps at the boundary and field positions, but Clemson plans to use him in the slot this season as well to try to find more mismatches for him.

Yet if there’s a secondary that has the height to match up well with that, it’s Georgia’s. Kendrick isn’t exactly a short corner at 6-0, but he’s on the lower end compared to Speed (6-3), Ringo (6-2) and Brini (6-2).

And with Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei in line to make just his third career start, what’s the Bulldogs’ plan of attack against him? Do they sell out to stop the run and try to make the young signal caller beat them? Or will they be more hesitant to do that given the way Uiagalelei lit it up in the two starts he made last season, including more than 400 yards passing and no turnovers at Notre Dame?

The answer is likely somewhere in the middle, though some success from Clemson’s running game would go a long way in possibly forcing Georgia to commit another defender or two to the box and create more one-on-one matchups on the outside. In all likelihood, though, Clemson’s wideouts will see a mix of man and zone coverages.

The Tigers have the athletes on the outside to win against just about anything they get. Georgia could argue the same. Finding the most advantageous matchups — Clemson’s speed isolated on a safety, perhaps? — could determine which wins more often.

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One-on-ones get competitive juices flowing between Clemson’s WRs, CBs

Andrew Booth’s answer was confident if not predictable. Asked who’s won the most matchups when defensive backs and receivers go one-on-one against each other during Clemson’s fall camp, the Tigers’ junior cornerback thought for a second. Then he …

Andrew Booth’s answer was confident if not predictable.

Asked who’s won the most matchups when defensive backs and receivers go one-on-one against each other during Clemson’s fall camp, the Tigers’ junior cornerback thought for a second. Then he smiled.

“I have won most,” Booth said.

Clemson devotes practice periods during camp specifically to one-on-one matchups on the outside. And with a group of tall, big-bodied wideouts going against a rangy collection of cornerbacks with a blend of experience and young talent, coaches and players say they’re some of the most competitive on the practice field.

That usually brings with it a fair amount of trash talk. Booth said the receivers don’t chirp too much, but if someone is talking, it’s usually sophomore E.J. Williams.

“He’ll let you hear it,” Booth said.

Junior lineman Ruke Orhorhoro has a reputation as perhaps the best trash talker on the Tigers’ defense, though the corners will also engage with the receivers from time to time. Booth said it’s all part of the competitive juices that get to flowing in a setting where the best man wins.

“You’re going to have some of that,” Booth said. “We all hug each other’s necks when we get back in there (after practice).”

The matchups often feature good on good. For Booth, who’s being counted on as a lockdown type this fall, that’s meant plenty of assignments against Williams, Joseph Ngata, Frank Ladson Jr. and Ajou Ajou among others. Mario Goodrich, Sheridan Jones, Fred Davis, Malcolm Greene and Nate Wiggins have also gotten plenty of one-on-one work against a group of receivers that doesn’t lack for physicality.

Even without star wideout Justyn Ross (COVID-19 protocols) unavailable for most of the one-on-one sessions in camp, the corners have still seen plenty of size from the wideouts. Ngata, Ladson, Williams and Ajou are all at least 6-foot-3 while Ngata and Ajou are each north of 220 pounds. Some of the new additions to the wide receiver room have only increased the group’s height with freshmen Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins checking in at 6-3 and 6-5, respectively.

“We get challenged as well as anybody can be challenged on the practice field,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “The receivers, backs, tight ends and quarterbacks, that’s how you get better is through strain, through pain and through failure. It forces you to be on your A game because you get exposed quickly if you’re not ready to go.”

At times, the corners even wear boxing gloves to prevent them from grabbing receivers or tugging their jerseys, which can lead to penalties. Wearing the gloves emphasizes footwork and leverage for the corners, something Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he’s been pleaded with from the group.

“Our technique has improved. Our positioning is a lot better,” Swinney said. “We’re making a lot of plays on the ball. We’ve got a lot of competitive plays, and that’s what you want to see.”

So, yes, the receivers have won their share of one-on-ones, but the victories have gone both ways. Booth, Goodrich, and Jones, all upperclassmen, have combined to play 1,395 snaps during their time at Clemson while Davis and Greene were part of the rotation as true freshmen last season. Wiggins is the only one of the Tigers’ top six corners that hasn’t yet played a down in college, but the true freshman may be the rangiest of the bunch at 6-2.

The group has given the wideouts some good looks, too.

“It’s nice because I’ve got Booth, Fred Davis, Malcolm Greene and all these great corners to go against. They make me better every day,” Ajou said. “So if I can go against them type of guys, I can do it against anybody.”

It’s every man for himself, though. And whether it’s a corner breaking up a pass or a receiver making a catch in front or over the top, the winning side isn’t usually shy about letting the other know about it.

“You better show up every day,” Swinney said. “It’s very competitive out here.”

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Two freshmen among Elliott’s scrimmage standouts

Saturday provided Clemson an opportunity to further evaluate its roster and depth chart during the team’s intrasquad scrimmage. Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott jokingly said during his zoom call with reporters on Saturday night to take a …

Saturday provided Clemson an opportunity to further evaluate its roster and depth chart during the team’s intrasquad scrimmage.

Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott jokingly said during his zoom call with reporters on Saturday night to take a look at his hairline; that’s what it’s like to go up against a Brent Venables-coached defense.

While the offensive showing wasn’t entirely what Elliott or the Tigers would have hoped for, there were still some players who caught his eye.

When asked what players stood out during Saturday’s scrimmage, Elliott said that freshman receiver Dacari Collins “had a good day” and that he’s been “pleased” with junior wideout Frank Ladson, Jr.’s progress as well.

Elliott also mentioned Jordan McFadden as someone who has “been solid.” The redshirt junior offensive lineman has taken the bull by the horns after making a switch from right to left tackle.

He gave some praise for Jaelyn Lay too.

“Jae Lay made a couple of plays, I’m anxious to see what it looks like from the other aspects of the game, but when he was targeted, he made some plays,” Elliott said.

Additionally, Elliott continued to sing the praises of true freshman quarterback Will Taylor, who has “looked impressive” thus far.

Circling back to Lay, Dabo Swinney has also been very complimentary of the redshirt sophomore tight end. Elliott was again asked about Lay towards the end of his session with reporters.

“Today, he just made some big plays,” Elliott said. “He got isolated one-on-one, a big third-down catch…he had to win to make the play and he was able to do that. So far, I’ve seen some flashes that I know it’s in there and I’m gonna get it out of him.

“He’s willing and he wants to. And a lot of it is too, you gotta be confident in what you’re doing. When you know what you’re doing, you stop thinking and you can play fast and you can play physical. That’s my job as his coach to get him to that point, to where he’s ultimately confident in his ability in the pass game and the run game. I’ve seen flashes and that’s very encouraging, so I’m excited for him.”

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Clemson’s receiving corps could ‘most definitely’ be one of nation’s best

Talking to a hoard of reporters before Clemson’s first practice, Dabo Swinney advised the assembled gathering to take a picture of the Tigers’ wide receivers at some point during fall camp. “Because, man, this is a really talented group,” Clemson’s …

Talking to a hoard of reporters before Clemson’s first practice, Dabo Swinney advised the assembled gathering to take a picture of the Tigers’ wide receivers at some point during fall camp.

“Because, man, this is a really talented group,” Clemson’s head coach said. “There are all at different stages as far as where they’re going in their careers, but if you look back at that picture in six years, I think you’re going to be pretty impressed with what these guys end up doing if the Lord keeps them healthy.”

Not every team in college football can lose its two leading receivers and not skip much of a beat, but that’s exactly what the Tigers are expecting to do at the position this fall.

“I feel like we can be one of the top receiver groups in the country,” junior wideout Justyn Ross said. “Most definitely.”

The confidence in what the group still has on the roster stems from a blend of veteran playmakers and young potential. Despite losing Amari Rogers and Cornell Powell, who combined for 130 catches last season before taking their talents to the NFL, Clemson is still oozing with depth and talent at the position.

Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr. are former blue-chip recruits who will be looking to take the next step in their development. E.J. Williams showed promise in snagging 24 receptions for 306 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman last season. Fellow sophomore Ajou Ajou has received praise for his performance in camp so far and could see his role increase.

Throw in true freshmen Beaux Collins, Dacari Collins and Troy Stellato, and the Tigers have no shortage of sizable options out wide. Stellato is the shortest of the group at 6-foot-1.

“We need all the depth we can get,” offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “It’s a long season. We’re at our best when we can play fast and we can roll those guys.”

Of course, the headliner is Ross, who proved to be one of college football’s best receivers his first two seasons in the program. He caught more than 1,800 yards worth of passes with 17 touchdown grabs before missing all of last season after having corrective spine fusion surgery.

Ross was recently given full medical clearance and practiced for the first time Friday after finishing COVID-19 protocols. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei said the value of the 6-4, 205-pounder’s return to Clemson’s offense doesn’t have to be explained.

“I think the whole world knows what Justyn Ross brings,” Uiagalelei said. “I think he’s the best receiver in the country. Justyn Ross is Justyn Ross. I think that speaks for itself.”

Staying healthy will be key for Ross if the group is going to reach its full potential, and he’s not the only one. Injuries limited Ngata and Ladson at times last season as the duo combined for just 25 receptions, but Swinney doesn’t have much doubt about their physical abilities.

“If they’re available, the rest will take care of itself,” Swinney said. “I promise you.”

With all of the receivers available in fall camp, the Tigers are cross-training many of them at different positions. Being able to line up different combinations in the slot, the boundary and the field helps maximize the group’s versatility as it works to meet its own lofty expectations.

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Availability the most important ability for Clemson’s primary receivers, corner

There’s little doubt in Dabo Swinney’s mind that Andrew Booth Jr., Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr. are all stars in the making for Clemson’s football program. That is, if they can stay on the field. In Swinney’s opinion, the key to maximizing the …

There’s little doubt in Dabo Swinney’s mind that Andrew Booth Jr., Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr. are all stars in the making for Clemson’s football program.

That is, if they can stay on the field. In Swinney’s opinion, the key to maximizing the trio’s potential comes down to one word: Availability.

“You can put Ngata, Ladson and Booth all in the same category,” Swinney said. “If they’re available, the rest will take care of itself. I promise you.”

Talent has never been much of a question when it comes to two of the Tigers’ top receivers and their emerging No. 1 cornerback. Booth, Ngata and Ladson have all been in the program for two years after arriving on campus as top-100 recruits.

Booth, who seems primed to take over for the departed Derion Kendrick as Clemson’s top corner, has teased coaches and fans alike with his raw athleticism and playmaking ability. Most notably, his highlight-reel interceptions last season against Virginia (a one-hander in the end zone) and Pittsburgh (a floating extension of a pick) made jaws drop.

Eyes popped again in Clemson’s spring game with another one-handed grab along the sideline while defending Ajou Ajou, though it didn’t go down as an official interception since he came down out of bounds. But, like Ladson and Ngata on the offensive side, the 6-foot, 195-pound Booth has dealt with various injuries that have kept him from dressing out at times.

“You see (Booth’s talent). We see it in practice, and you’ve seen it on game day,” Swinney said. “It’s a tough game, and he’s had some nagging injuries along the way that have limited his consistency. So that’s really it. Just availability week in and week out.”

One of the more physically imposing wideouts on the Tigers’ roster, Ngata also shown flashes of what he’s capable of when healthy. The 6-3, 220-pounder has caught 24 passes for 323 yards, but most of that — 17 receptions for 240 yards and all three of his touchdown catches — came during his freshman season in 2019. An abdominal injury limited Ngata to just seven games last season, three of which he started.

Another big-bodied receiver at 6-3 and 205 pounds, Ladson had his best season so far in a Clemson uniform last season with 18 catches for 281 yards and three scores despite getting just four starts. He bounced in and out of the lineup with a foot injury and also missed part of spring ball with an undisclosed injury.

But Ngata and Ladson are back healthy to start fall camp, though Ngata had a brief scare during the Tigers’ second practice Saturday. At one point during one-on-ones, Ngata fell to the ground and reached for his left foot. Trainers tended to Ngata for a few minutes on the sideline, but Ngata eventually hopped up and returned to practice.

He later caught a touchdown during team periods. E.J. Williams is also back after a productive freshman season (24 catches, 306 yards, two TDs), and once Justyn Ross returns from COVID-19 protocols — that’s expected to happen Friday, Swinney said — the Tigers will have their top four receivers available.

Their hope is it can stay that way for a while.

“These are really, really talented players,” Swinney said of Ngata, Ladson and Booth. “They’re knowledgeable, and they’re passionate about it. But they just need to catch a break and have the good Lord keep them healthy and be able to be out there every week. And they’re going to do great things.”

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Ross, Uiagalelei boast that ‘wide receiver U’ is back

The injury bug hit Clemson hard last season particularly at wide receiver. Justyn Ross missed all of last season due to a congenital spine issue, Joseph Ngata had surgery on abdomen, Frank Ladson was nagged with a reoccurring foot issue and Brannon …

The injury bug hit Clemson hard last season particularly at wide receiver.

Justyn Ross missed all of last season due to a congenital spine issue, Joseph Ngata had surgery on abdomen, Frank Ladson was nagged with a reoccurring foot issue and Brannon Spector also missed time due to injury.

Ahead of the 2021 season Clemson looks poised to return its wide receiver core to full strength even with Amari Rodgers transitioning to the NFL.

Ross told The Clemson Insider that the group will be the best in the country this season.

“I feel the receiver unit can show we are the best in the country for real,” Ross said. “Just from what I see and what I know players can do, the country has seen it they just haven’t seen the whole thing. So I feel like we can be the best receiver group in the whole country for sure.”

Ross is still waiting on the official word on whether he is cleared for full contact this season. But he has been able to participate fully in individual drills and workouts since last October.

First year starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei also has high expectations for his receiver room looking ahead to this season.

He went as far to claim the Tigers boast the deepest and best group of wide receivers in college football.

“I feel like we have eight legitimate guys who can start at any spot on our offense,” Uiagalelei said. “I think we definitely have the deepest receiver room in the country, we have the best receiving corps in the country by far in my opinion.”

For Uiagalelei it the depth all starts with Ross.

“I love Justyn Ross and feel like he is the best receiver in the country just having him out there is amazing and I’m glad he’s going to get a chance to come out there and play,” Uiagalelei said at ACC Kickoff last week. “We’ve definitely had a great relationship and I’m ready to throw him the ball.”

As for the rest of the room Uiagalelei feels the comradery is there for the Tigers to make a splash at receiver this year after getting a full summer of skills and drills work in.

And the sophomore signal caller is eager for the rest of the country to see what guys like Ngata and Ladson can show at full strength.

“We have some receivers that haven’t played a lot like Joe Ngata and Frank Ladson played a little bit but due to injuries weren’t able to get on the field much, but they are definitely going to show that to a lot of people,” Uiagalelei said.

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Mac Lain has very high expectations for Ross, Clemson receiving corps

Former Clemson offensive lineman and current ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain has very high expectations for Justyn Ross and the rest of the Tigers’ receiving corps heading into the 2021 season. Mac Lain expects Ross, who missed last season due to …

Former Clemson offensive lineman and current ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain has very high expectations for Justyn Ross and the rest of the Tigers’ receiving corps heading into the 2021 season.

Mac Lain expects Ross, who missed last season due to a congenital spinal issue which required surgery in June of 2020, to make a splash in his return to the field this season while setting himself up to make a lot of money in the NFL following his redshirt junior season with the Tigers.

“I think first-round draft pick,” Mac Lain said on the ACC Network when asked about his legitimate expectations for Ross in 2021. “This guy looks like Julio Jones when he walks out. He’s big, he’s from Alabama, a scary sight to see. Of course, wearing No. 8. He’s that good. He’s that dominant of a player.”

Mac Lain’s fellow ACCN analyst, EJ Manuel, pointed out that Ross is certainly not the only Clemson wideout to watch out for this season.

“You’ve also got E.J. Williams. You’ve got Frank Ladson, Jr. You’ve got Joseph Ngata,” Manuel said. “These guys are loaded, man. They might’ve actually got better at receiver, to be completely honest, as far as size, top to bottom. So, it’s pretty crazy.”

Mac Lain believes this year’s Clemson receiving corps has the potential to be as good as the group of receivers he played with that featured several guys who went on to play in the NFL.

“I was in a room with Deandre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant, Charone Peake,” Mac Lain said. “These guys I think can rival that, which is crazy to say. It’s a little unproven. I’s going to be proven early and often this year.”

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Clemson is as deep, dynamic as ever at wide receiver

Clemson likes to cross train most of its wide receivers, especially its older ones, at all three positions. For instance, Justyn Ross is likely to start as the Tigers’ slot receiver, as head coach Dabo Swinney reported back in the spring, but he can …

Clemson likes to cross train most of its wide receivers, especially its older ones, at all three positions.

For instance, Justyn Ross is likely to start as the Tigers’ slot receiver, as head coach Dabo Swinney reported back in the spring, but he can also play the boundary and field positions if need be.

E.J. Williams showed last year he is a versatile player, as he lined up in the slot and in the field. In the spring the sophomore cross trained at all three positions as well. Frank Ladson is another who can play all three positions.

With Ross expected to back after missing all of last season following spinal surgery, Clemson should be very dynamic at the wide receiver positions. Joseph Ngata, who missed most of last season due to injury, is expected to be back to full strength as well, as he can play both the boundary and the field positions.

Ajou Ajou is coming off a very good spring and he is expected to be in the mix. Another versatile athlete is Brannon Spector, who can play the slot and the field positions.

The Tigers also have he services of freshmen Beaux and Dacari Collins. And, no, they are not related. They both had solid springs and Swinney thinks they both can help this coming season.

Justyn Ross, *Jr., 6-4, 205: Ross missed all of the 2020 season after undergoing spinal surgery in June of 2020. There was a time when some wondered if the honorable mention All-ACC wide receiver was even going to have the opportunity to play football again. Ross visited his doctors in Pittsburgh in early June to get final clearance. There has been no official word on how that meeting went and if Ross was given the green light to participate in tackling drills. He did participate in non-tackling drills in the spring. In the meantime, Clemson is looking forward to Ross’ return, as it possibly gets back a legitimate gamebreaker at wide receiver. Ross will likely start in the slot, but he can play the boundary and the field positions, too. Look for Clemson to line him up where they can create favorable matchups.

Joseph Ngata, Jr., 6-3, 220: Ngata enters 2021 credited with 24 receptions for 323 yards and three receiving touchdowns while playing in 22 games, including three starts in his career. He missed five games in 2020 due to abdomen issue he suffered in the season opener. The injury stuck with him all season and he finally had surgery in November. He missed the last four games of the season. He caught seven passes for 83 yards in the seven games he played in. Though he still was not hundred percent, according to Swinney, the junior had a very good spring, which he closed with six catches for 83 yards in the Spring Game. He likely will start the season as the Tigers’ starter at the boundary position.

E.J. Williams, So., 6-3, 190: Williams, who played with Justyn Ross in high school, emerged as a playmaker late in the 2020 campaign and is a legit All-ACC caliber player. Williams finished the season with 24 receptions for 306 yards and two touchdowns. Williams really came on down the stretch. He had three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers’ win over Pitt, while he grabbed a career-high four catches for 80 yards and a touchdown against Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game. He continued his progression with a very productive spring and is expected to challenge for the starting spot at the field position when camp gets started next month.

Frank Ladson, Jr., 6-3, 205: Ladson is expected to be at full strength after suffering through a season of nagging injuries in 2020. He is a deep threat that can play any of the Tigers’ three positions. He will enter 2021 with 27 career receptions for 409 yards and six touchdowns. He has played in 25 games in his career, including four starts. Last season, a foot injury sidelined him for a couple of games and caused him to sit early in a few others after limited action. He still caught 18 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns.

Brannon Spector, *So., 6-1, 195: The brother of current linebacker Baylon, Spector played in 11 games last season, including one start, while hauling in 16 passes for 136 yards. His best game came against Virginia, as he caught four passes for 32 yards. Spector is faster and more athletic than Renfrow. He runs clean routes and has good hands. He spent much of last season playing behind Rodgers. This year, look for him to rotate at the slot and the field positions a lot.

Ajou Ajou, *Fr., 6-3, 215: A native of Canada, Ajou showed off his potential against Georgia Tech last years when he had a 35-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. He broke seven tackles on his way to the end zone on the play. He also caught a long pass down the sideline, which was overturned due to a replay. He played in 10 games overall, while catching two passes for 41 yards. He closed out a very productive spring by catching six passes on 11 targets for a game-high 102 yards, including a touchdown, in the spring game.

Beaux Collins, Fr., 6-3, 195: Collins will fit right in with Clemson’s receiving corps as another big, long athlete. Strong and physical, Collins can climb the ladder and make contested catches in jump-ball situations. He is an effective route-runner and a smooth runner in general with good long speed. Overall, his combination of size, speed and athleticism makes him a matchup nightmare for many opposing defenders. Collins is one of three receivers that Clemson signed during the December early signing period, along with Dacari Collins and Troy Stellato. The trio will try to provide a boost to the Tigers’ receiving corps.

Dacari Collins, Fr., 6-4, 200: Collins will give the Tigers yet another big, long and athletic wideout. He wants to stay at that playing weight in order to maintain his speed. As a receiver, Collins is good at getting out of breaks with his quickness and agility and uses his speed to stretch the field vertically. He runs with long strides and is a smooth, fluid runner, while he is dependable as a pass catcher with soft hands and has a wide catch radius. He can reach out and snag passes over the shoulder and has the ability to go up and come down with 50-50 balls as well. His big body and ball skills should make him a threat in the red zone. Collins fits the mold of a typical Clemson receiver with his size and skillset and has the tools to be another big-time weapon for “Wide Receiver U” in the future.

Troy Stellato, Fr., 6-1, 175: Stellato enrolled at Clemson last month. He posted 26 receptions for 325 yards and five scores in the first six games of his pandemic-shortened senior season at Cardinal Gibbons High (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) in 2020. The consensus national top-300 player, according to the major recruiting services, racked up 112 career receptions for 1,758 yards and 19 scores in 33 games at the high school level. Stellato is a gritty player, similar to Spector. He is described to have long speed and is a tough and hungry guy who can play multiple positions.

Note: *redshirt

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