By William Qualkinbush.

By William Qualkinbush.

Of all the positions on the football field, wide receiver is the one where Clemson will miss the most talent from last year’s team. No, this doesn’t just mean Sammy Watkins, but it certainly starts with him.

Watkins caught 101 balls for 1,464 yards last season. In terms of percentages, he accounted for 30 percent of Clemson’s receptions and 34 percent of Clemson’s receiving yardage in 2013. That’s a massive load to replace, and we haven’t even begun to analyze his immense talent, physical maturity, or knack for making any kind of play necessary.

Outside of Watkins, Clemson’s next best receiver was junior Martavis Bryant. He finished second on the team in receptions (42) and yards (828) and was miles ahead of his teammates in averaging 19.7 yards per catch, the ninth-best average in the country. Both players are now in the NFL, taking with them more than half of Clemson’s 2013 receiving yardage.

Left behind is a giant question mark. For the first time since 2010, Clemson has no bona fide go-to receiver and a ton of new faces in the bunch. Plus, Cole Stoudt is a new man at quarterback with a bunch of supposed strengths and weaknesses that have never manifested themselves in the game.

Simply put, nobody has any idea what this passing game will resemble on August 30.

The leading returner at receiver is Adam Humphries. The senior slot man caught 41 passes for 483 yards and a pair of scores in 2013 as a reliable option for Tajh Boyd. He tended to catch balls in bunches, as 30 of his receptions came in five games, and he was noticeably absent against Georgia and Florida State. Still, it stands to reason Stoudt will be looking his way more often in 2014.

Humphries began the season behind fellow Dorman High School graduate Charone Peake in the slot. An injury sidelined Peake for the final ten games of the regular season, but in the time he saw the field, he looked capable of having a monster year. If there is a candidate to be a 1,000-yard receiver on this team, it’s Peake. His rangy 6’2” frame is coupled with pretty good breakaway speed on the edge. He should line up all over the field for the Tigers, assuming he can get over a minor setback in his recovery.

The other returner capable of making noise is Mike Williams. The sophomore with the basketball background could be Stoudt’s favorite downfield target given his size, athleticism, and ability to high-point the ball in the air. His 20 catches last year don’t seem like much, but he averaged 15.8 yards per reception—more than everyone but Bryant, including Watkins. Williams seems in line for a monster year since, theoretically, he fills the role vacated by Bryant better than anyone else.

The three freshman receivers have all garnered praise at various times. Artavis Scott got the most love in the spring, while Demarre Kitt has seemed to show out more consistently during camp. Kyrin Priester has seen his ups and downs, as well. Scott should see time as a slippery option in the slot, while Kitt and Priester have the length and skill set to be factors out wide. Playing time for this trio of players could be primarily based on the health of their veteran teammates.

Lost in the shuffle at times has been the curious case of Germone Hopper. After redshirting in 2012 in spite of rave reviews about his work on the scout team, Hopper has been in the doghouse for more than a year due to a lack of off-field discipline, particularly in the classroom. He is certainly capable of being a factor on this team, but he also has the shortest leash of any pass-catcher.

Tight end could be an interesting position to watch this season. Boyd’s best receiving options were outside, so he looked there more than over the middle. Given the youth and inexperience present in the receiving corps, a crew of returning tight ends could benefit with more catches and yards than they have seen in years past. Double tight end sets could be a regular occurrence in Chad Morris’ scheme this season because of the depth and versatility within that position group.

As a receiver, the best option appears to be sophomore Jordan Leggett—perhaps the biggest nightmare, in terms of matchup, for opposing coordinators. The sophomore’s maturation has enhanced his profile within the football offices after he openly spoke about his lazy habits last season. Now working hard, it’s easy to see Leggett besting his 12 receptions and 176 yards from last season.

That task will be made easier with other solid options to distract in coverage. One of them is Stanton Seckinger, who has been bothered by an injury in camp but is poised for a solid season. He caught 21 passes last season, most among the tight ends, and his touchdowns against Georgia and Ohio State were incredibly important in securing those wins. He is reliable and steady and has improved his blocking tremendously over the past two seasons.

Sam Cooper will be more of a blocker, but he showed capability with his hands at times in 2013 with six catches. Jay Jay McCullough became a big back at times last year but has improved as a hybrid tight end/H-back in the offseason and could be a factor within this position group.

If the theory that Clemson will run the ball more in 2014 sticks, it could mean good things for the tight ends. More playaction means more opportunities down the seam, particularly if the options out wide require multiple bodies in coverage. Once again, how this logjam will work itself out between the wideouts and tight ends is unknown and could very easily shift dramatically from game to game.

God Bless!

WQ