T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr. lead a top-five receiving unit, but Dabo Swinney’s gamble on unproven quarterbacks threatens to stall the Clemson Tigers' high-octane offensive revival.
No one knows what this Clemson Tigers team can or will do.
The Tigers underperformed in 2025, going 7-6 with a roster that sent nine players in the 2026 NFL Draft within the first five rounds. That talking point has been huge since April, and it won't go away until Clemson plays better this fall.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made a few sweeping changes this offseason, brining back Chad Morris to run the offense. Former NFL interim head coach Rich Bisaccia is running the special teams.
Swinney embraced the transfer portal more than usual to boost the defense, but he made a confusing decision not to bring in an elite quarterback in the transfer portal, opting for a battle between Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds.
That decision could wind up wasting the talent of Clemson's receiver corps.
Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports ranked Clemson as having the No. 5 best receiver group in the nation.
"The Tigers return one of the nation’s top receiving duos with T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr. back this fall," Lassan wrote. "Wesco Jr. was limited to just seven games due to injury but still grabbed 31 receptions for 537 yards and six scores. Moore paced the Clemson attack with 52 catches for 837 yards last fall.
"Tyler Brown and Cole Turner are back to provide veteran depth, and true freshman Naeem Burroughs is a potential breakout candidate. Christian Bentancur and Olsen Patt-Henry form a solid duo at tight end."
The Tigers need their receivers to step up this season and make plays if the team is to stay in contention for the ACC championship and College Football Playoff.
However, there is only so much they can do if the Tigers experience poor quarterback play, much like they did last season when Cade Klubnik had a frustrating final season at the college level.
Swinney's choice to trust the quarterbacks already on the roster over brining in an outsider via the transfer portal will be the defining decision of the season for Clemson.
The Tigers wide receivers should do their part, but they can only catch what they're given.
