The Clemson Tigers are being pressed to swing a big NIL deal with one of their top wide receivers.
The Clemson Tigers will be losing Antonio Williams to the NFL Draft this offseason, which means that T.J. Moore will become Clemson's top wide receiver in 2026 by default.
Not that that's a bad thing.
Moore has been brilliant this season, having hauled in 46 receptions for 754 yards and four touchdowns heading into the Pinstripe Bowl against Penn State on Saturday ... and he was showing out early on against the Nittany Lions.
The 6-foot-3 pass-catcher has captured the hearts of Clemson fans who clearly want the team to retain him amid rumors that he could bolt via the transfer portal this offseason, and the Tigers faithful were making it clear on social media that they wanted to keep Moore long term.
This was one of numerous posts urging Clemson to hand Moore a "blank check," and you can hardly blame the fans for wanting it.
A former five-star recruit, Moore is proving to be one of the most talented wide receivers in the country and flashed immediate potential during his freshman campaign in 2024 when he caught 45 passes for 651 yards and five scores.
Moore entered 2025 as the Tigers' No. 2 receiver behind Williams following the latter's breakout season in 2024, but a legitimate argument can be made that he has already established himself as Clemson's clear No. 1 option.
The question is, will the Tigers be able to retain him if other teams come calling?
Clemson Tigers receiver T.J. Moore. Credit: Ken Ruinard - GREENVILLE NEWS-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.While Clemson is a terrific program, it isn't quite as elite as it was five years ago. The Tigers have definitely fallen, and NIL is a major reason why.
Case in point, Clemson went jus 7-5 during the regular season this year, marking its worst finish since Dabo Swinney's first campaign at the helm back in 2010.
Additionally, the Tigers have posted three straight seasons of four or more losses, which came on the heels of a stretch where they didn't post four losses once between 2012 and 2022.
With Cade Klubnik heading to the NFL Draft this spring, keeping Moore in tow will be imperative for whoever will be playing quarterback for Clemson in 2026.
Hopefully, Swinney and Co. do everything they can to ensure that Moore sticks around.