Four-Star Wideout Ronan Hanafin signs with Clemson

★★★★ | Ronan Hanafin 6’3, 210 | Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ronan Hanafin‍ is a versatile offensive weapon who becomes Clemson’s first Massachusetts signee since Christian Wilkins.

Rankings: Ranked 81st in Sports Illustrated’s SI99 for 2023 … listed as the No. 195 overall player in the nation by 247Sports, which also listed him as the No. 4 player in Massachusetts and the nation’s No. 13 athlete … Rivals ranked Hanafin as the No. 5 player in Massachusetts and 10th-best athlete in the class … ESPN.com ranked Hanafin as the No. 6 player in Massachusetts and the nation’s No. 35 athlete … PrepStar three-star recruit who ranked as the service’s sixth-best player in Massachusetts.

In High School: Versatile athlete who contributed in myriad ways at Massachusetts’ Buckingham Browne & Nichols School … started prep career at cornerback as a freshman but played receiver and linebacker/safety most of his career … also returned punts … limited by injury to only three games (and just one full game) as a senior … posted 64 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions and a sack as a junior in 2021 … contributed 30 receptions for 369 yards and four scores … played football and lacrosse … played for Mike Willey.

Personal: Brother of Shane Hanafin, who will be a redshirt freshman quarterback at Boston College in 2023 … his father, Dan, was Boston University’s starting quarterback in 1997, the last year the school played football … Dan led Boston University to victory over UMass in 1997, the last victory in BU football history … became Clemson’s first signee from Massachusetts since eventual unanimous All-American Christian Wilkins in 2015 … born Feb. 4, 2004 … committed to Clemson on August 14, 2022 … chose Clemson over Notre Dame, for whom he was recruited by former Clemson receiver Chansi Stuckey … expected to enroll at Clemson in summer 2023 … name pronounced “ROE-ninn HANN-uh-finn.”

Our Take:

Luke Winstel

My favorite part of Hanafin’s tape is his aggressiveness as a blocker. Of course, not all wide receivers are good - and willing blockers, but the four-star’s work ethic on the field is impressive. This fall, he looked like a man amongst boys at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

I’ll be curious to see how quickly he can adapt to Power Five-level competition. Hanafin has the physical tools- size, length, and strength to fit into the Clemson offense well. The four-star was an excellent boundary threat in high school and can plug into a similar role at Clemson.

Morgan Thomas - Is a physical outside receiver who is not afraid to block. Can play both WR and DB. Used in kick return as well. Unsure of competition level, not a very highly ranked school in MA. Seems to be one of the main guys on the varsity team. Will fight for the ball and likes contact. Not going to lose or get tackled easily. Route running can use some improvement.

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