There is no doubt, guys like running back Tavien Feaster, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and linebackers Tre Lamar and Shaq Smith are the kind of players that solidify a top 5 recruiting class. But star power does not always translate to wins and losses when you evaluate a class.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is one of those coaches who likes to go back and look at a class several years later, perhaps when they graduate, to determine how good a recruiting class really was. He wants to see how those recruited really contributed to the program both on and off the field.
It’s safe to say, the Tigers are on a good run at doing both. The highly touted guys like a Stephone Anthony, Tony Steward, Sammy Watkins, Nuk Hopkins, Mackensie Alexander and a Deshaun Watson have all done as expected, but what about the other guys from those classes. What about the not so highly touted guys? You know the guys like Adam Humphries or walk-ons like Chandler Catanzaro, Greg Huegel and Hunter Renfrow. How have those guys contributed to the program?
Swinney was asked last week does the increased popularity of the Clemson brand change the way he recruits an athlete and does he still save room for the Renfrows, Catanzaros and Huegels of the world.
“There will always be room those guys,” he said.
In his four years at Clemson, Catanzaro became one of the Tigers’ all-time greatest kickers. The now kicker for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, finished his Clemson career by connecting on 31 of his final 33 kicks.
Huegel has opened his career in pretty much the same fashion. This past season, the freshman set a single-season scoring record with 137 points, while also setting a season record 27 field goals on 32 attempts. Making 84.4 percent of your field goals isn’t too bad for a first-year player.
Speaking of first-year players, look at what Hunter Renfrow did in the National Championship Game against Alabama. He caught two first-quarter touchdowns from Watson, once getting behind the Alabama secondary for a 31-yard touchdown, and then fought his way open for an 11-yard score on the last play of the quarter.
Renfrow finished the game with a team-high seven catches for 88 yards.
“You look at a guy like Hunter Renfrow. We are going to bring in about four or five preferred walk-on guys. We are going to have great success with those types of guys,” Swinney said.
By mid-season, Renfrow became the starter for the Tigers in the slot position. He finished the year with 33 catches for 492 yards and five touchdowns. Not bad for a guy who was a preferred walk-on coming out of high school.
“We are going to play the best guy. Not the most highly recruited guy. We are going to play the best guy,” Swinney said. “All you have to do is look at Hunter Renfrow in the National Championship Game. Here is a freshman walk-on that is doing pretty good.
“We always have room for that.”
If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.
