Clemson Star Wide Receiver Returning for 2026 Season

The Clemson Tigers had a disappointing 2025 season, going 7-6 and losing in the Pinstripe Bowl to Penn State. That left many question marks for Clemson, including whether key players would enter the transfer portal.

The Tigers retained star wide receiver TJ Moore for 2026 after agreeing to a new deal. Moore was one of the few bright spots for Clemson in 2025, hauling in 52 receptions for 837 yards and four touchdowns in his sophomore campaign.

He was also impactful back in his freshman season in 2024, catching 45 passes for 651 yards and five touchdowns.

Getting Moore back is pivotal for the Tigers' offense as they look to have a bounce-back season in 2026. He will be playing under a new offensive coordinator, as head coach Dabo Swinney fired Garrett Riley and brought in Chad Morris.

Morris served as the Tigers' offensive coordinator from 2011 to 2014. He went on to serve as head coach at SMU and Arkansas before returning to an offensive coordinator role at Auburn in 2020. 

Morris has not been in that big of a role since, but Swinney is bringing him back as Clemson looks to return to being one of the best programs in college football.

Another adjustment that Moore will have to make is playing with a new quarterback. Cade Klubnik finished out his senior season, completing 65.6 percent of his passes for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He added 94 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Clemson may have to be more aggressive in the transfer portal than they have been in the past to bring in their next quarterback.

The Tigers went to four National Championships over the last decade and won two. However, after losing in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff, Clemson didn't even make the ACC title game.

Getting a player back in Moore will be crucial for the offense's success, but he will have to get acclimated to a new system as the Tigers hope to turn it around and get back to the College Football Playoff in 2026.