CLEMSON — It has been a while since Clemson had a true No. 1 wide receiver. A true No. 1 being someone like Tee Higgins, Mike Williams, DeAndre Hopkins or Sammy Watkins.

That’s what has been missing the most in the Tigers’ offense the last few years, they just have not had that explosive player who can stretch the field and open things up for everyone else.

Clemson has some good pieces in place. Tyler Brown showed a lot of promise in leading the Tigers in both catches (52) and yards (531) as a true freshman.

Antonio Williams, who led Clemson in both yards (6-4) and receptions (56) in 2022, returned from injury in the Gator Bowl and caught fives passes for 32 yards, including a big 16-yard reception on a third-and-18 play on the Tigers’ game-winning drive.

Troy Stellato, who missed his first two years at Clemson because of injury, came on late for the Tigers in 2023 and finished the year with 38 catches for 321 yards. Adam Randall also started to show his potential down the stretch and racked up 22 catches for 250 yards.

Clemson wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham and head coach Dabo Swinney are hoping they have found two players that will help them get over the hump in five-star product Bryant Wesco Jr and four-star T.J. Moore.

Wesco is already on campus as an early enrollee, while Moore is expected to enroll this summer.

“Receiver, we wanted to take two guys there. These guys have been committed, they came into our visit last June, they’ve been committed ever since,” Swinney said. “These are two of the top 10 receivers in the country – two great, great players that really bring everything that we’re looking for.

“Wesco’s coming in midyear, so he’ll get a head start, and really excited about him and just the versatility of his game. He can really do a lot of things. Same thing with TJ, man – just two ballhawks. They can go up and get it. They got length, they’ve got speed, they’ve got change of direction, they’ve got the ability to do a lot of things with the ball in their hands after the catch. So, a lot to like.”

Slot Receiver Spring Candidates

Antonio Williams, 5-11, 195, *So. – Williams enters 2024 credited with 828 yards and six touchdowns on 78 receptions in 19 games, including 14 starts. He had a breakout campaign in 2022, earning Freshman All-America honors after leading the Tigers in both receptions and receiving yards in his first season.

Tyler Brown, 5-11, 180, So. – The 2023 Freshman All-American became the fifth Clemson player since 2010 to record 50 receptions in a freshman season, joining Antonio Williams (56 in 2022), Artavis Scott (76 in 2014), Sammy Watkins (82 in 2011) and DeAndre Hopkins (52 in 2010). He played in all 13 games last year and was a starter in nine of them.

Misun Kelley, 5-10, 180, *Fr. – Kelley, who can also play defensive back, is a dynamic player that helped nearby Daniel win 36 straight games and two state championships. He played in two games last year before redshirting due to injury.

Field Receiver Spring Candidates

Troy Stellato, 6-1, 190, *Jr. – Though he suffered a couple of bumps and bruises along the way, Stellato went onto play in each of the Tigers’ final 12 games in 2023, including six starts. His 38 catches ranked tied for third on the team, while his 321 yards ranked fourth.

Cole Turner, 6-1, 185, *So. – Turner showed flashes down the stretch of his redshirt year, including a 100-yard effort in the 2022 ACC Championship Game. He also had four catches for 51 yards in the Orange Bowl. He enters 2024 with 11 career receptions for 189 yards in five games, including two starts. He caught three passes for 28 yards last year before missing the majority of the season with an adductor injury he suffered in Week 2 of the season.

Bryant Wesco, 6-2, 170, Fr. – A consensus top-35 player nationally, according to all major recruiting services, Wesco recorded 109 receptions for 1,903 yards and scored 29 touchdowns during his prep career at Midlothian (Texas) High School. He posted 36 catches for 619 yards and 13 touchdowns in just seven games as a senior after hauling in 56 passes for 1,072 yards and 12 scores as a junior.

Boundary Receiver Spring Candidates

Adam Randall, 6-2, 225, Jr. – Randall is a talented in-state wideout who enters 2024 with 32 career catches for 378 yards in 25 games. He has recorded six starts in his career. He played in all 13 games last season, five of which were starts.

Noble Johnson, 6-2, 210, *Fr. – A former four-star product, Johnson played in four games in 2023 before redshirting. He finished his high school career with 101 receptions for 1,739 yards (17.2 avg.) and 14 touchdowns.

Ronan Hanafin, 6-3, 210, So. – Hanafin played in 11 games last season, mostly on special teams. He was a two-way player in high school where he played receiver, linebacker and safety. He is a former four-star recruit from Massachusetts, the first player from Massachusetts since Clemson great Christian Wilkins.

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