Wide Receiver University is not just a fancy nickname, but it has become a since of pride at Clemson. Since 2012, no school has produced more NFL talent than Clemson, which has six former players who started in the NFL in 2017 and seven that were on NFL rosters.

Three of those seven—Sammy Watkins, Mike Williams and Deandre Hopkins—were first round draft picks.

Leading the charge is “Nuk” Hopkins, who recorded 96 receptions for 1,378 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall for the Houston Texans. Hopkins is considered one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. His 13 touchdowns led all NFL receivers last year.

Since coming into the league in 2013, the Clemson native has tallied 413 receptions for 5,865 yards, while catching 36 touchdowns. He’s been named All-Pro twice, including as a First-Team selection in 2017. He has been voted to the Pro Bowl two times as well.

Watkins, Bryant, Humphries and Brown also had very productive 2017 campaigns while playing for the Rams, Steelers, Buccaneers and Cardinals. Mike Williams (the No. 7 overall pick by the Chargers in 2017) and Charone Peake were also on NFL rosters last fall.

Former Tigers Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud will try to join in that success this coming season after leaving Clemson a year early to enter the 2018 NFL Draft. While they chase their NFL dreams, it leaves the door open for more players to step in this season and fill their shoes and continue Clemson’s legacy at wide receiver.

Guys like Tee Higgins, Amari Rodgers, Diondre Overton and Cornell Powell will get their opportunity when the Tigers open spring practices next Wednesday to show what they can do in possibly replacing Cain and McCloud.

Though the Tigers are extremely talented at wide receiver, their still a big question mark on who can replace Cain and McCloud, who ranked second and third on the team in receptions, and first and third on the team in terms of yards.

Of course, 2016 National Championship hero Hunter Renfrow returns for his senior season and will start for the Tigers in the slot. Last year, he led Clemson with 60 receptions and was second in yards (602) and touchdown receptions (3).

Trevion Thompson and T.J. Chase also return to back up Renfrow up as well as compete for the starting spots on the boundary and field positions. Freshman Derion Kendrick, who enrolled in school in January, will also be in the mix and will compete with the others in the Tigers’ 15 spring practices. Kendrick was the No. 1 ranked player in the state of South Carolina coming out of high school.

With Justyn Ross, the No. 1 ranked player from the state of Alabama, inking with Clemson earlier this month on National Signing Day, the Tigers seem to be in good position for years to come in living up to the mantra as “Wide Receiver U.”