By Will Vandervort.

One thing Jeff Scott loves about his job is to watch a talented freshman grow into one of the best players in the country.

He has had the pleasure of experiencing this several times – first with Jacoby Ford, then with DeAndre Hopkins and now of course with Sammy Watkins. All three went on to become All-ACC, All-American and high NFL Draft picks.

“It’s fun as a player and as a coach to be a part of that and to see that really grow,” Scott said. “I think we will be sitting here in a couple of years from now talking about how we are going to have to replace some of these young guys that are coming in now.

“That’s the fun part of the coaching profession.”

With Watkins gone and now Charone Peake expected to miss at least one week of fall camp, at least one of the Tigers’ three freshmen receivers will have to step up and fall in the footsteps of Ford, Hopkins and Watkins. Artavis Scott, Demarre Kitt and Kyrin Priester are all listed as second team wide receivers heading into camp after very a productive spring for all three.

“You never know what you are going to get until you get them in the meeting room and get them on practice field,” Coach Scott said. “All three of those guys showed some really good signs this spring. We have had a lot of success with receivers playing earlier.”

As a freshman in 2006, Ford played in all 13 games as he helped the Tigers as a receiver, kick returner and punt returner. He averaged 12.5 yards per reception, 11.1 yards on punt returns, 32.8 on kickoffs and scored four touchdowns.

In 2010, Hopkins set a freshman record with 52 receptions for 637 yards and four touchdowns, while leading all receivers in all three categories. The following season, Watkins shattered all of Hopkins’ marks with 82 catches for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“It’s a combination of having great players to buy in after working extremely hard,” Scott said. “There are tons of talented players out there that are not willing to pay the price and you get an average result. We have been fortunate that the top tier players that have come in here have all come in hungry, have a very strong work ethic and have had success.”

Scott feels he has that again in Artavis Scott, Priester and Kitt. Because of the success Ford, Hopkins and Watkins had as freshmen it shows others that they can come to Clemson, play early and have a successful career that will take them to the next level.

“I think when you can do that, it allows you to recruit a higher level of player that maybe has the same type of ability that can come in and play,” he said. “If all three of those guys continue to work in fall camp like they did in the spring, then I think all three will have an opportunity this year.

“I believe success breeds success. When you look at Jacoby then a Jaron Brown, Hopkins and obviously now Sammy – these younger guys watched those guys play. They were there and saw those guys play in high school and obviously whenever they got to Clemson they wanted to continue that tradition.”

Now it’s Artavis Scott’s, Priester and Kitt’s turn.