Tag: WRU

Four former Ohio State players on PFF’s top 32 NFL receivers of 2023

WRU??? #GoBucks

There is a legit argument for [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] and the moniker of Wide Receiver U.

The Buckeyes have recently sent multiple high-level receivers to the NFL and many of them have been making large contributions to their respective teams.

Pro Football Focus has ranked the top 32 receivers ahead of the 2023 season, and it should come as no surprise that more than a few Buckeyes made their list.

With four on the list, it makes the Buckeyes have 12.5% of the best receivers in the game. Find out below who and where each former Ohio State star landed on PFF’s list with part of Sam Monson’s rationale for being included.

Williams shines with career day in victory

What a day it was for wide receiver Antonio Williams. In Clemson’s latest 31-16 win over Louisville, the freshman put together the best performance of his Clemson career, leading the way for Tyler Grisham’s wide receiver room on Saturday. Williams …

What a day it was for wide receiver Antonio Williams.

In Clemson’s latest 31-16 win over Louisville, the freshman put together the best performance of his Clemson career, leading the way for Tyler Grisham’s wide receiver room on Saturday.

Williams came in clutch on the first drive of the matchup with a big deep ball grab and never looked back, finishing the day with an impressive 10 receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown, besting his previous career highs of five receptions and 76 yards receiving in a single game.

Williams’ career day came at a time when the Tigers needed it most. Following the loss to Notre Dame in South Bend where Clemson’s offense struggled to gain momentum and move the sticks, the Tigers were in need of an offensive difference maker versus Louisville — a role Williams was more than ready to fill.

Highlighted by his third career touchdown — a 4-yard reception in the second quarter — Williams proved that he could provide the explosiveness that both Clemson’s offense and the Tigers’ wide receiver core were missing en route to the win.

Despite Williams having a small hiccup in the third quarter with an unlucky fumble, the South Carolina native left today’s matchup as Clemson’s leading receiver on the season with 43 receptions for 473 yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Higgins’ highlights from huge AFC Championship Game

As we all know by now, former Clemson Tiger and current Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins absolutely went off in last weekend’s AFC Championship game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. His 6 catches for 103 yards led the team, and he provided a few in the …

As we all know by now, former Clemson Tiger and current Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins absolutely went off in last weekend’s AFC Championship game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. His 6 catches for 103 yards led the team, and he provided a few in the game’s most clutch moments.

Clemson Football gave him a shoutout and posted his highlights from that game. Check them out here.

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Tee Higgins incredible day helps lead Cincy to the Super Bowl

What a game for Tee Higgins. The Bengals just knocked off the Chiefs with a walk off field goal to head to the Super Bowl and Tigers WR Tee Higgins was a huge part of their win today. Higgins was all over the field finishing with 6 catches for 103 …

What a game for Tee Higgins.

The Bengals just knocked off the Chiefs with a walk off field goal to head to the Super Bowl and Tigers WR Tee Higgins was a huge part of their win today.

Higgins was all over the field finishing with 6 catches for 103 yards. Including coming up clutch on the game winning drive.

It’s great seeing WRU represent itself so well.

Impressive debut season has Beaux Collins in rare company

Injuries decimated Clemson’s wide receiver room in 2021. On top of that, Justyn Ross entered the NFL draft and Frank Ladson, Jr. and Ajou Ajou each elected to transfer. In need of stability, Clemson won’t need to look too far, as it had a rising …

Injuries decimated Clemson’s wide receiver room in 2021. On top of that, Justyn Ross entered the NFL draft and Frank Ladson, Jr. and Ajou Ajou each elected to transfer.

In need of stability, Clemson won’t need to look too far, as it had a rising star emerge at the position lat season. It would seem that Clemson might have that next man up ready roll in Beaux Collins.

Injuries catapulted Collins into a starting and his late surge put him in some rare company. He finished the season, second on the team with 31 catches and added 407 yards across his freshman campaign.

Who are the other Clemson freshmen — true or redshirt — to post those numbers in their freshman season under Dabo Swinney?

Collins, who has played in the slot, took most of his reps on the outside this past season. He’s posted two 100-yard games in the last four, including a career-high 137-yard day against Wake Forest.

It’s likely that after his late-season surge, he could be the one to eventually fill in for Ross.

It remains to be seen if he will end up in the same conversation as the WRU alumni mentioned above, but he’s certainly off to a good start.

Clemson WRU members making their presence felt in the NFL

A trio of former Clemson “Wide Receiver U” members have made their presence felt in the NFL this season. Tee Higgins, now in his second NFL season after being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (No. 33 overall pick) of the 2020 …

A trio of former Clemson “Wide Receiver U” members have made their presence felt in the NFL this season.

Tee Higgins, now in his second NFL season after being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (No. 33 overall pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft, recorded career-highs of 12 catches and 194 yards and tied his single-game career-high with two touchdowns in the Bengals’ 41-21 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

With his monster game, Higgins surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the season and currently ranks 15th in the NFL with 1,029 receiving yards in 13 games played to go with his 71 receptions and six receiving touchdowns.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas on Sunday, Raiders third-year receiver and Clemson legend Hunter Renfrow joined Hall of Fame company during the Raiders’ game against the Denver Broncos.

With his first catch of the game — an 18-yard reception on the Raiders’ first possession — Renfrow reached the 90-catch mark this season to join Hall of Famers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice as the only Raiders in history to reach 90 catches in a season.

Renfrow finished Sunday’s game with three catches for 40 yards, including an outstanding 10-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter of the Raiders’ eventual 17-13 victory.

Renfrow (949 receiving yards) needs just 51 more to reach the 1,000 receiving yards mark for the first time in his career — college or pro. He has 92 catches this season, and with two games left, is just 12 catches away from tying the aforementioned Brown (104) for the most receptions by a wide receiver in a season in Raiders franchise history.

Renfrow’s former Clemson teammate, Mike Williams, has had a strong NFL season as well.

Williams is currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but is close to 1,000 receiving yards as well with 964 yards on 64 catches across 14 games played. His seven touchdown catches are tied for 14th in the league.

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase lead the NFL vs single coverage

This duo is still showing their pass-catching prowess at the NFL level.

Just two years ago in Baton Rouge, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson were putting up video game-like numbers for the LSU Tigers. That championship season ended with the Bayou Bengals going a perfect 15-0. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy on the way to a record year. His 60-touchdown record has since been broken by Bailey Zappe, but it is still viewed as one of the best seasons ever.

In 2019 the duo combined for 3,320 yards and 38 touchdowns. That doesn’t even factor in the 671 yards and 13 touchdowns from Terrace Marshall Jr, who is now in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. According to NBC color commentator Cris Collinsworth who is the owner and chairman of Pro Football Focus, the duo of Chase and Jefferson are still at it in the NFL. They are the best two receivers against single coverage.

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Jefferson’s numbers account for 59.4% of his total yardage. As for rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, his 762 yards account for 73.4% of his total. Despite not playing in the Joe Brady system at the NFL level, they are showing that it was more than just the playcalling that allowed them to strike fear into the hearts of defensive coordinators.

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Justin Jefferson closing in on his rookie numbers in yards

Jefferson looks to Griddy his way to career-highs in year two

During his rookie campaign of 2020, former LSU Tigers wide receiver Justin Jefferson took the league by storm. In his first season, Jefferson posted 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns with the Minnesota Vikings. This season, he looks to far exceed those numbers. He already has with the touchdown receptions.

Heading into the 15th game of the year against the Los Angeles Rams, Jefferson has accumulated 89 receptions, 1,335 yards, and nine touchdowns. He averages 15 yards per reception and 9.7 yards per target. Jefferson’s catch percentage sitting at 65%. More often than not, when it comes his way he will come down with it.

Jefferson’s remaining games:

Not exactly an easy schedule with all three remaining opponents being in the upper half of the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed. The plus for Jefferson is that both Chicago and Green Bay are two of the worst passing defenses in terms of passing touchdowns allowed. The Rams are No. 2 pass defense allowing just one touchdown per game. The Packers rank as No. 26 with 1.8 per game and the Bears are No. 29 with 1.9 per game.

We could still see plenty of Griddy dances in the final three weeks as the Vikings look to secure a spot in the NFL playoffs.

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Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

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What They Are Saying: Former Clemson receivers ball out in NFL Week 13

A bunch of former “Wide Receiver U” members balled out on Sunday in Week 13 of the NFL season. Former Clemson wideouts Tee Higgins, Mike Williams, Hunter Renfrow, DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins all had big games for their respective NFL squads. …

A bunch of former “Wide Receiver U” members balled out on Sunday in Week 13 of the NFL season.

Former Clemson wideouts Tee Higgins, Mike Williams, Hunter Renfrow, DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins all had big games for their respective NFL squads.

Higgins racked up nine receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown in the Cincinnati Bengals’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, who benefited from Williams’ five catches for 110 yards.

Meanwhile, Renfrow (nine receptions, 102 yards) also exceeded the 100-yard receiving mark in the Las Vegas Raiders’ loss to the Washington Football Team, while Watkins had four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown in the Baltimore Ravens’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Hopkins returned after missing time because of a hamstring injury to post a couple of catches for 32 yards and a score in the Arizona Cardinals’ win over the Chicago Bears.

Check out what they are saying about the former Tiger receivers below:

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LSU WR Kayshon Boutte ranked among the best underclassmen

WR1 still among the top underclassmen despite having sat out since Oct. 9

Heading into the season there was no better option for a breakout year than that of sophomore wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. We saw what he could do in 2020 once he was given an opportunity. He set an SEC freshman record for his offensive explosion against Ole Miss.

Despite being sidelined since the Kentucky game, Boutte was the nation’s leader in touchdown receptions until these past couple of weeks. Just shows how dominant he has been with the ball in his hands. Heading into 2022, why should we expect anything less?

Per ESPN (subscription required) Kayshon Boutte is among the best underclassmen in 2021.

(The Daily Advertiser)

What ESPN says…

As a true freshman last season, the 6-foot, 190-pound Boutte finished the year with three straight 100-yard games, including a 308-yard, three-touchdown performance in the finale against Ole Miss. The former four-star recruit picked up right where he left off this season with a 148-yard, three-touchdown game in Week 1 against UCLA. His 2021 campaign was cut short because of an ankle injury, but he’ll be a guy who will have WR1 hype going into his junior year.

Over the past several years, LSU has been a wide receiver producing machine with Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Terrace Marshall Jr all moving to the NFL. Jefferson set a record for receiving yards by a rookie and Chase looks to smash that number this season. The next on the list will be Boutte, who will likely head to the NFL following his junior season. It will be interesting to see what kind of offense they will run in Baton Rouge with the new staff.

One thing will be for certain, Boutte will likely be a huge part of it as the featured weapon.