Clemson legend Hunter Renfrow is making his NFL comeback with the Carolina Panthers. And while he hasn’t been a part of the Panthers wide receiver room for long, the newcomer has quickly made a great impression.

Veteran Panthers receiver Adam Thielen (pictured above) took time during a recent press conference to praise Renfrow, who agreed to a deal with Carolina back on April 27.

“This is a guy that has done it at a high level, and just another voice to kind of give his influence and how to be a great football player, how to be a pro,” Thielen said. “He’s been a great addition.”

Although health issues prevented Renfrow from playing last season, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said recently that Renfrow has made huge strides since signing with the team, with Canales saying he’s seeing “the muscle memory of a guy who’s been a really good player” in the NFL and that he’s improving substantially on a weekly basis. 

As for Thielen personally, the two-time Pro Bowler and 12-year NFL veteran said Renfrow – a Pro Bowler himself back in 2021 — has helped Thielen with certain parts of his own game.

“He’s really helped me because he does a lot of things really well in the slot, and maybe things that weren’t really necessarily in my skillset,” Thielen said. “So, a great compliment to this offense, and a great person to have in the wide receiver room.”

What are some examples of those things that Thielen has seen Renfrow do really well?

“He runs great choice routes,” Thielen said. “He finds space really well. Great body control. Things that necessarily aren’t my strongest suit, I’ve made work over the years, but he’s really good at them. So, it’s been fun to kind of see him in person. Obviously seeing him on tape and things like that, but you see it firsthand, you kind of try to pick some things from what he does.”

Not only is Renfrow already impressing on the field in his return to action following a year away from football, but he’s also making his mark as a teammate and person off the field.

“My kids love him,” Thielen added, via Athlon Sports. “He brings a lot of joy to the team.”

A 2019 fifth-round pick of the Raiders, the 29-year-old Renfrow is now embarking on his sixth NFL season, after recording 269 receptions for 2,884 yards and 17 touchdowns across his five seasons with the Raiders from 2019-23.

–Photo courtesy of Brett Davis-Imagn Images