Swinney on Renfrow: "It’s like Clark Kent taking his glasses off or something"

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

In an interview with NBCSportsBayArea.com, Dabo Swinney said that before his arrival at Clemson, Raiders rookie wideout Hunter Renfrow, “was never in the weight room,” when he was in high school.

Renfrow, who still holds the record for most touchdown receptions in the College Football Playoff with five, is in his rookie season with Oakland. 

Swinney went on to give specifics about the two-time national champion receivers numbers in the gym.

“The thing with Hunter is, you know, he was 150 pounds. He was athletic, but he was weak. He literally, literally benched 125 pounds when he came to Clemson. He’s a three-sport athlete, he was never in the weight room, you know he was always twitchy and fast, but never in a million years would you think he’s a football player if you just walked up.”

© Bart Boatwright-USA TODAY Sports

Hunter Renfrow brings in the game-winning touchdown in the 2017 National Championship game.

Swinney went on to point out that while his looks were certainly deceiving, the Tigers saw enough to give him a preferred walk-on spot.

“Sometimes we get blinded by how people look, we judge that book by its cover, but the game of football, if it was just about size and strength and running fast, we’d just go over to the track and sign everybody. You’ve got to be able to play the part. Hunter is one of those guys. We didn’t offer him a scholarship, but we certainly recruited him as a preferred walk-on because we saw some potential.”

By the time his career came to an end, Renfrow managed to put up 225 pounds seven times at the NFL Combine. 

Swinney went on to compare Renfrow to Clark Kent.

“When he puts that helmet on I don’t know what happens, he becomes Superman. It’s like Clark Kent taking his glasses off or something.”

Read the full article here: Dabo Swinney recalls Hunter Renfrow as a freshman bench pressing 125 pounds