Saturday night, the Clemson Tigers will kick off their season at home for the first time in six years under the lights of Death Valley. The anticipation is off the charts for a game which looks to be a great matchup between two storied programs, both striving to take the next step in their quest for resurgence to the top of the college football landscape.
A big key to Clemson’s success, both Saturday night and throughout the season, will be the performance of the wide receivers. Just a few years ago,
there was widespread concern from prognosticators and fans alike about the lack of elite playmakers in the wide receiver room, a staple of Clemson’s championship teams over the last decade plus. Those concerns have subsided, due in large part to the arrival of two talented freshman last year. This year, the Tigers look to have one of the best units in the country, returning their top three receivers in Williams, Moore and Westco. Let’s dive into our wide receivers preview:
Antonio Williams, #0, RS Junior
Antonio Williams was an impact freshman himself when he came on the scene in 2022, leading the Tigers as a Freshman All-American in both receptions (56) and receiving yards (604), hauling in 4 touchdowns. During a season where other receivers struggled to find separation, Antonio excelled at it and proved to be the most reliable option. After a sophomore slump in 2023, Antonio returned to form in 2024, logging his best season yet in grabbing 75 receptions for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns. With Westco and Moore now having a year under their belts, opposing teams will have a difficult time locking down all three. In addition to receiving, Antonio had 164 return yards on 17 punts, had 101 rushing yards and a touchdown, and completed 2 of 2 passes for 62 yards. Williams started all 14 games for the Tigers last year and brings much needed leadership to the receiver room in his fourth year on the Clemson sideline. He’s looking to make his final year his best yet as the NFL waits in the wings. NFL Draft Analyst Todd McShay has Antonio as his #1 receiver in the 2026 draft class, and it’s easy to see why.
T. J. Moore, #1, Sophomore
Standing at 6’3” and arriving in Tiger Town as a former five-star recruit, fans were anxious to see what kind of impact T.J. Moore would have. He didn’t disappoint. In his first year, Moore had 45 catches for 651 yards, good enough for 6th in the country in receiving yards among freshman, and he grabbed 5 touchdown receptions. Westco is very intelligent, both on and off the gridiron, receiving All-ACC academic honors in his freshman campaign. He’s electric, and he’s a problem for opposing defenses. It may not be long until #1 becomes the #1 receiving option for the Tigers, and fans should be excited to see him in orange for at least the next two seasons.
Bryant Westco, Jr., #12, Sophomore
Bryant Westco provided a much-needed spark for the Tigers early into the 2024 season. After a tough opener, Cade Klubnik connected with Westco on a 76-yard score under the lights in Death Valley against Appalachian State. He had 130 receiving yards in that breakout night. Westco maintained his momentum, finishing the year with 41 receptions for 708 yards and 5 touchdowns, good enough for Freshman All-America honors. His 17.3 yards per catch average led the team, and he looks to pick up this year right where he left off. He’s 6’2” and has built solid chemistry with fellow Texan Cade Klubnik. He came through on big stages last year, hauling in 143 yards and 2 touchdowns in the ACC Championship game to help lead the Tigers back to the College Football Playoff. This sensational sophomore should be exciting to watch in 2025.
Tyler Brown, #6, RS Sophomore
Much like Antonio Wiliams, Tyler Brown provided much-needed production in his Freshman All-American year as a former under-the-radar recruit. He didn’t stay unnoticed for long. In fact, he led the team in receiving yards and catches, hauling in 52 receptions for 531 yards and 4 touchdowns. Like Antonio Williams, Brown had a knack for creating separation in his freshman year and immediately established himself as a reliable option. Unfortunately, an ankle injury led to a redshirt year for Brown in 2024, but the reports from fall camp are that he’s on his way back. If he’s healthy for 2025, that would make three (3) former Freshman All-American receivers available for Garrett Rilye’s offense, none of which are named T.J. Moore.
Tristan Smith, #3, Senior
One of the most intriguing newcomers on the offensive side is 6’5” portal transfer Tristan Smith from LaGrange, Georgia. He played at Southeast Missouri State last year in the FCS where he had 76 catches for 934 yards, 6 receiving touchdowns, and a rushing score. While he’s stepping up in competition this year, early returns have been very positive. In the Spring Game, Smith showed out with 5 catches for 137 yards and a score. He provides another big option at receiver for Klubnik, and it will be interesting to see how Riley incorporates him into the offense. If he does well, he could get a chance at the next level.
Cole Turner, #22, Junior (RS)
Cole Turner burst onto the scene back in the 2022 ACC Championship game where he caught 3 passes for 101 yards in a Tiger victory. After being hampered by injury in 2023, Turner logged 16 receptions for 229 yards and 2 scores in 2024. Known for his speed, he should be a contributor again this year. Cole, along with Antonio Williams, will provide a veteran leadership presence in the receiver room.
With a senior quarterback Cade Klubnik at the helm, this season looks to be an exciting one for the Tiger receivers. Here’s to the return of WRU.
