CLEMSON — In 2023, few freshmen receivers were better than Tyler Brown.
He had one of the best freshman seasons by a wide receiver in Clemson history, as he hauled in 52 catches for 531 yards and 4 touchdowns. His numbers were good enough to earn him Freshman All-American honors.
However, 2023 was the last time anyone has seen that version of Tyler Brown. The following season, Brown severely injured his foot, which required surgery. Though he tried to come back several times before his surgery he was unable to play at the level he did as a freshman.
In all, he missed 8 games during Clemson’s run to the College Football Playoff and finished the year with just 5 catches for 30 yards and no TDs.
No one knew what to expect from Brown in 2025. Antonio Williams, who many thought might go professional after the 2024 season, decided to return. The Tigers also brought back the talents of freshmen sensations Bryant Wesco, Jr., and T.J. Moore.
However, when Williams was injured on the fifth play of the game against LSU in the season opener, it seemed Brown’s time to shine had arrived again, like it did in 2023 when a foot injury sidelined Williams for most of the year.
But Williams never found that same mojo, as inconsistent play and dropped passes prevented him from reaching his full potential. When Williams returned from his injury against LSU, Brown saw his playing time drop significantly.
During the season, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney downplayed Brown’s lack of snaps at that point.
“Nah, we just got him right there where we need him, and ready to go if something happens to Antonio,” Swinney said last November. “It’s a critical position for us, and that’s just kind of the way the snaps have been.”
“But we love TB,” Swinney added. “He’s a great player. But he can only rep so many places.”
Overall, last season, Brown played a total of 356 snaps across 13 games (three starts). The explosive 5-foot-11, 185-pounder from nearby Greenville High School caught just 21 passes for 191 yards and did not catch a TD pass.
He recorded a season-high 64 snaps in the Tigers’ loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl. However, Brown caught just three passes for 31 yards and dropped two passes.
“He’s got a lot of great days ahead,” Swinney said. “He’s just a [redshirt] sophomore, got a couple more years left.”
Clemson hopes those remaining “great days” begin this season.