Grisham understands it's a big year for Clemson receivers, confident in the group

The anticipation for the upcoming Clemson football season is reaching new heights as calendar days expire and the Sept. 4 prime-time Labor Day matchup at Duke nears. 

On Tuesday, Clemson held its annual football media day and wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham answered an array of questions with an emphasis on his group's ability to grasp and thrive in new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley's spread offense. 

When Clemson began spring practices, the initial opportunity for receivers to interact with Riley in a hands-on environment, Beaux Collins, Troy Stellato, and Adam Randall were all recovering from injuries. With the trio out, Antonio Williams, Cole Turner, Brannon Spector, Noble Johnson, and available walk-ons took practice reps and the field on April 15 for the Orange and White Spring game. 

Injuries have plagued the Tigers receivers’ room the past two seasons and production was down. However, there's hope in the Upstate that Riley's offense can reinvigorate WRU and someone emerges to have similar statistics of Sammy Watkins, Nuk Hopkins, or Tee Higgins this season. 

In front of several members of the media, Coach Grisham expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the injured receivers, who are all healthy and only Stellato isn't quite 100 percent, and their commitment to learning Riley's offense despite limited participation in the spring.

“They've been in meetings, and so they're having to learn the offense,'’ he noted. '’And man, those guys are in there. They're on board, even though they're not practicing, they're making sure that they know the concepts of how to draw it up and how to communicate it, sending signals, [and] new terminology.”

Their dedication to understanding the intricacies of the playbook is expected to minimize any potential drop-off in performance when they return to the field.

"So, they know it really well. Even though they weren't practicing, they were out there,'’ Grisham explained. '’They were in line and they were helping out and so they were involved. So there shouldn't be any drop-off. “

Williams caught five passes for 24 yards in the spring game and led the team in receptions (56) and yards (604) last season. Turner led in yards per reception (20.1) in 2022, and Collins was tied with tight end Davis Allen with the most touchdowns (5). With Ngata, who was second in receptions (41) and yards (526), in the NFL, only Williams, Collins, Randall, Spector (missed 2023 with a knee injury), and Turner have game experience. It's a relatively young group because only Collins and Spector, a redshirt senior who missed the 2021 season with complications from Covid-19, are upperclassmen.

Clemson Sports Talk

Antonio Williams and Beaux Collins on the line and ready in the top 10 matchup vs N.C. State (Oct. 1, 2022)

Johnson was the only freshman on campus this spring, so he's ahead of classmates Ronan Hanafin, Tyler Brown, and Misun Kelley, who will split time with Grisham and cornerbacks coach Mike Reed. 

A freshman receiver has been a key contributor the past two seasons for the Tigers' offense. Again, Williams led the team in two main categories in 2022, and in 2021, Collins was second in receptions (31), yards (421), and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions with 3.

Is Grisham concerned about the depth of the group, especially with the additional stress of learning a new offense? 

“We actually have good depth. This is probably going to be the most depth we've had albeit everyone stays healthy," Grisham said. "Our rooms pretty loaded."

And what about the freshmen? Can they contribute this season?

"So, I think we have guys that are capable of contributing this year," he responded. "I believe with the way that we play, there's going to be guys that roll in and are going to be asked to make plays. I think they can.”

Riley's spread offense is new to all the receivers and Grisham, so there's a learning process, and there will be a learning curve for everyone. Grisham admits the offense is distinct from the previous one and he briefly detailed how. 

“With the scheme, the way that we install, the way that we practice is different where there's more teaching, there's more half speed, three-quarter speed, teaching periods that allow the guys to kind of conserve their legs but also learn and correct," he stated.

Grisham also said the new system provides fewer parameters and receivers will find open spaces and make plays.

"There's a ton of confidence and there's a lot more freedom," he said. "I think the guys kind of feel like they're able to go be athletes. There’s less parameters on each and every route and each and every play. You'll find grass, get open, make plays, have fun."

Even with a relative lack of experience and understandable concerns about the depth in the receiver room, Grisham is assured he has the depth and talent at the position to make significant contributions to the team's success in 2023.

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