Former Tiger WR Officially Declares for NFL Draft
By: Robert MacRae January 25, 2025

A former Clemson wide receiver officially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday.

Clemson transfer and Notre Dame wideout Beaux Collins announced via social media that he is entering April’s NFL Draft.

“Thank you to all the alumni and fans that are a part of the Irish family,” Collins wrote. “The past 4 years have been incredibly life changing and has led me to say that I’m looking forward to entering the 2025 NFL Draft!!!”

Collins was dealing with a calf injury and was designated as questionable to play in the College Football Playoff National Championship game against Ohio State on Jan. 20, but was able to suit up and caught four passes for 32 yards in the Fighting Irish’s 34-23 loss.

After transferring from Clemson to Notre Dame ahead of the 2024 season, Collins ranked third among Irish players in receptions (41) and was second on the team in receiving yards (490). The graduate senior was tied for second on the team with three touchdown catches this season, including a 13-yard touchdown against Georgia in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2.

In his three seasons at Clemson from 2021-23, Collins recorded 91 receptions for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns over 32 games (27 starts).

Collins broke out late in his true freshman season with 31 catches for 407 yards and three touchdowns, joining DeAndre Hopkins (2010), Sammy Watkins (2011), Artavis Scott (2014), Hunter Renfrow (2015), Deon Cain (2015) and Justyn Ross (2018) as the only Clemson freshmen — true or redshirt — in the Dabo Swinney era to post at least 30 receptions and at least 400 receiving yards in their debut season.

In November, Collins — a former four-star and top-50 national prospect in the 2021 recruiting class — reflected on the recruiting process and what led him to choose Clemson coming out of California high school football powerhouse St. John Bosco.

“Coming out of high school, I had a plethora of options,” Collins said. “My dream school growing up was USC, Southern California. Obviously I was a huge Reggie Bush fan when I was a tyke. So, I was planning on going there, but coming out of high school, they didn’t have the best setup going on. My top schools were probably like Ohio State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Texas, Bama…

“But what drew me to Clemson was really just like the family environment that they had there. I really didn’t see anything like it. Coach Swinney and the coaches there do a good job of just making everybody feel like they’re actually at home when you touch down in Clemson. It’s a small little town out there, but it’s nothing like it, I’d say. From my time playing there, I learned a lot from Coach Swinney, and I knew going there out of high school, that was one of the best decisions I made just to get out of my comfort zone and learn.”

The 2025 NFL Draft is scheduled to be held from April 24-26 inside and around iconic Lambeau Field and Titletown in Green Bay, Wisconsin.