Yes, Deshaun Watson was the man and leader for Clemson last year but one has to remember the talent he had surrounding him to throw to. Big-time receiver Mike Williams was draft in the Top-10 at the NFL Draft earlier this year, as well as Artavis Scott from last year.
The Tiger though do return some household names, along with a few names that are looking to make that big jump and become the big-time threats to help spread the field once again.
Ray-Ray McCloud, Deon Cain, and Hunter Renfrow aren’t new kids on the block though, but will now have a bigger spotlight on their heads this season, as they seemed to have locked down the starting positions for the Clemson to start this season.
“Cain, Renfrow and McCloud have all appeared to lock down starting jobs on Clemson's receiving core,” Anthony Messenger from Rubbing the Rock.
Renfrow, the hero for the Tigers in the National Championship that caught the game-winning reception, will do much of what he did last season for the Tigers in being a security blanket. Deon Cain, a junior receiver, could be one of the more breakout players in the Clemson offensive game plan, as he could be that downhill, stretch the field threat for the Tigers, especially after averaging 19.1 yards per catch last year (38 receptions, 724 yards, nine touchdowns).
“Deon Cain should be the go to guy this season, as he has blazing speed and an uncanny ability to make people miss,” Messenger said. “Cain has the potential to be a game breaking deep threat for the Tigers in the mold of one Sammy Watkins.”
Ray-Ray McCloud is another familiar name but is one that could see a bigger role in the offense after recording 49 receptions last year.
The one thing that has Messenger concerned though is the size of the starting receivers.
“My only issue of concern is the fact that not one of them is above 6-foot-2, Clemson won't have many size mismatches with that starting lineup on the field,” he told All Things ACC.
After those three, these will be the names that are new to the scene and will be looked upon to step up when needed for the Tigers. Trevion Thompson is a junior receiver that has been around but just hasn’t had as many chances to showcase his ability. After recording only 11 receptions for 108 yards in 2016, Thompson could be a name that Tiger fans could hear more about and will lead the second team in this receiving corp.
Messenger agrees.
“Trevion Thompson is one of the veteran receivers on Clemson's roster. As such he will likely play a significant amount of snaps in 2017.”
Other young players like sophomore Cornell Powell, sophomore Diondre Overton, and freshman TJ Chase all could see more snaps in 2017 and have shown at times their ability to make plays.
