If it wasn’t for a hometown freshman, the Clemson wide receiver room would’ve been dead in the water during the 2023 season. Tyler Brown led the team in receiving with 531 yards and four touchdowns as the unit failed to produce a true No. 1.

The odds were stacked against this group as injuries to Cole Turner and Antonio Williams derailed hopes of a deep group. Back on the subject of Brown, his rise against both Florida schools before a 153-yard breakout at Syracuse made it appear he was the heir apparent. He got banged up towards the end of the season, and the offense didn’t play around him as much as it initially projected.

Beaux Collins was the only true deep threat during the season, but he wasn’t a 50-50 ball player either. That’s something the offense entirely lacked outside and it proved to be a real problem. Quarterback Cade Klubnik didn’t have a go-to target on third downs and every great offense has it. Collins is now at Notre Dame, and that was a tough loss for Garrett Riley’s offense.

Beyond those two names, it was a mixed bag that featured a lot of slot receivers forced to play around the field. Troy Stellato and Adam Randall never found momentum, combining for 587 yards, but the former’s sure hands were a nice sight at times. He had the chance to be the sure target for Klubnik. Randall dealt with a broken hand during the season, and that was extra salt on the  wound.

That’s just it, though. The Tigers never found what it needed at receiver and it matches with the offensive production. Mediocre was its best. The silver lining is the recruiting class coming in and Clemson has to hope it’s as advertised.

WR final grade: D+