Like old times at Clemson, Hunter Renfrow and Dabo Swinney were back together again on the football field Monday.
Clemson’s head coach showed up at Carolina Panthers training camp Monday to see Renfrow, who is now healthy and back in action after one year away from the NFL.
Of course, Renfrow signed a one-year deal with the Panthers in April after missing all of the 2024 season as he dealt with health challenges stemming from a diagnosis of the autoimmune condition ulcerative colitis.
Swinney spoke with reporters at Panthers training camp and had nothing but positive things to say about Renfrow as the legendary Clemson receiver makes his NFL comeback.
“He started training a little bit. His training is playing basketball, pickleball, throwing a frisbee, maybe run a few routes,” Swinney said. “So he started training and he started getting the itch [to play football] a little bit again, and he’s one of them guys, he’s like, ‘Well, I’m just going to play for the Panthers.’ I’m like, ‘Well I don’t know that it’s going to work like that, Hunter. You don’t just get to do that.’ But here he is. Somehow it worked out and he’s here with the Panthers.
“And he’s having fun. He just feels great. And then he had to go through OTAs and all that, so kind of getting his football legs back under him after a year off. But he’s just a great human being and a great teammate, very selfless guy. Obviously this is a part of the country where people are familiar with him. So, I’m just pulling for him, and he’s having fun. He’s 29, so I’m just happy that he’s back out here, and if he stays healthy, he’ll do what Renfrow does. That’s just who he is. So, it’s exciting, and what a great culture [Panthers] coach [Dave] Canales has really built and you can feel that.”
Renfrow has quickly acclimated himself well with his new team and was impressive when the Panthers opened training camp on July 23, with Renfrow hauling in multiple nice catches, including a diving grab. He continued to impress with another diving catch on Monday.
Swinney raved about what Renfrow brings to the table as a wideout and how he goes about his craft.
“He gets open and he catches it. He makes plays,” Swinney said. “He understands leverage and influence and route running and break points and how to set things up and how to play with his hands at full speed. He’s got elite change of direction. He plays long. He’s not a very big guy, but he plays like a 6-3 guy. And having coached receivers my entire life – I’ve been around a lot of 6-3 guys that play 5-9 – but he’s a little guy that plays really big.
“He’s crafty, and just his ability to separate and change direction, it’s hard to find that. Very explosive, and just a confident guy. Returner. So, he can do a lot of things to help a football team, and that’s all I think he’s looking for is just having a chance to get back going and help the team somehow, someway.”
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.
He was drafted by the Raiders in the fifth round (149th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft following a legendary Clemson career during which he won two national titles while racking up 186 receptions for 2,133 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Swinney says Renfrow looks like a normal guy in street clothes, but transforms into “Superman” when he puts a helmet on.
“I play basketball with him all the time, pickleball – I play a lot. I’m always competing against Renfrow because when he shows up, we gotta compete,” Swinney said. “Because he and my oldest son are really close, in each other’s weddings. So, I see him in different settings, and whenever he’s around, we’re competing in something. And you could just start to see that he was working his way back, and so, it’s fun. I knew he had more football in him, and it’s fun to see him happy and just healthy, and he’ll do the rest. I know he doesn’t look the part, but he puts on a helmet on and he turns into Superman.”
–Photo courtesy of Scott Kinser-Imagn Images