After the disappointing 2025 season, Clemson went out and added more than 10 transfers to the roster in an effort to plug some immediate holes on the roster.

While almost every one of those incoming transfers is expected to make an impact during the coming season, several freshmen are going to have opportunities. A handful of those guys might end up being too good to keep off the field.

Two of those players reside at wide receiver. Naeem Burroughs was the highest-ranked recruit in the 2026 class. At 5-foot-11, Burroughs has elite-level speed and the kind of playmaking ability that could make him an asset in the slot or on the outside.

“Explosive, playmaking, exciting,” Burroughs said of what he brings to the table. “I feel like every time you sit in the stands and you’re coming to watch me play, you’re going to get a show out of me.”

While Tyler Brown is likely to come into the season as the starter in the slot, Burroughs is going to work himself into the rotation, and probably sooner rather than later.

Gordon Sellars is also likely to have a shot. While he doesn’t quite have the same kind of speed that Burroughs does, Sellars can motor in his own right. He posted a 10.93 in the 100M during his high school days.

Sellars made multiple plays in the spring game, including a spectacular touchdown grab, giving fans a glimpse of things to come. It’s not a question of if, only a matter of when. Expect the 6-foot-3 wideout to work himself into the rotation with Bryant Wesco, T.J. Moore and Cole Turner.

“Just a dawg – a dawg who doesn’t want to lose,” Sellars said. “If somebody lines up in front of me, it’s 100 percent me, or nobody’s going to get the ball. So, just knowing that and knowing that I want to win – like, losing, it makes something inside of me mad. So, just knowing that and just knowing that I’m a ballplayer and I have the ability, because I’ve done it before. It just makes it easy for me to know that I can do it.”

Sellars is certainly accustomed to winning. He hails from Providence Day in Charlotte, where he was a part of three state championship teams.

One freshman worth watching on the defensive side of the ball is Polo Anderson. He was the second-highest-ranked recruit in the 2026 class and brings the right mental makeup to the safety position. In fact, he was the only high school safety the Tigers signed.

Even Dabo Swinney believes Anderson has a chance to contribute in 2026.

“Size, speed, athleticism,” the head coach said. “Can do, I think, three or four different type jobs within the structure of our defense. I think he’s got a chance to help us early.”

Of the six freshmen offensive linemen, Grant Wise might have the best shot at cracking the two-deep. While Harris Sewell is basically locked in as the starting center, it certainly would not be surprising to see Wise ultimately be his backup.

Last but certainly not least comes the freshman who could potentially have the biggest impact. Tait Reynolds arrived on campus in January and quickly became the talk of spring ball as he is now fully encompassed in a battle with Chris Vizzina for the starting job.

With Garrett Riley gone and Chad Morris back, the Tigers are going through a hard reset on offense. Morris wants to get back to pushing the ball down the field, and Reynolds certainly has the arm to do that. He’s also much more of a danger when it comes to running the ball, and the Morris offense excels when it’s being run by a quarterback who can beat you with his legs.

After the spring game, Swinney was asked if Reynolds was capable of pushing for the starting role in fall camp.

“Absolutely, absolutely,” he said. “Ain’t nobody got lifetime contracts around here. Everybody has to prove it. Everybody has to show up. Everybody has to earn it.”

“There was a bunch of guys kind of battling for that second spot, and he cleared that. He came out of that smoke first, with that group. Now, he’s got a big summer ahead, and he is just going to keep getting better.”

The battle between Reynolds and Vizzina is going to be the biggest storyline entering fall camp, and how it plays out is going to have a tremendous impact on Clemson’s success.