Former Clemson receiver 'felt sad' to leave school, declare for NFL draft

Former Clemson receiver Joseph Ngata is back in the Upstate and took part in Pro Day on Tuesday, about two months after declaring for the 2023 NFL draft.

Ngata opened up for the first time about his decision to turn pro following four seasons with the Tigers.

The California native had the best year of his career in 2022, posting career highs in receptions and yards.

He said that moving on from Clemson was a tough decision but one he felt like he needed to make.

“I don’t really know how to feel about that. Just whenever I make a decision, I pray about it. I talk to my family about it. I talk to my friends about it,” Joseph Ngata said. “Obviously a lot of people wanted me to come back, but at the end of the day I can’t take back what I did. I can’t take back anything. Now I’m just moving forward, looking forward.”

Ngata was second on the Clemson team with 41 catches for 526 yards last season, finally showing more consistency as he was able to stay healthy for an entire year.

He appeared in all 14 games in 2022, after playing in 12 games combined the previous two years. His best game last season came in the finale against Tennessee when he caught eight passes for 84 yards. A couple of weeks later, he declared for the NFL draft.

“It was sad that I left. I felt sad when I was leaving. But I feel like it was the best thing for me to do. I did what I did and I just went. I’m not looking back. I have faith. Have faith in myself,” Ngata said.

“At the end of the day, whatever I showed, I showed. I can’t take anything back. Too late to even reconsider. Too late to even look back. My thing is looking forward, getting better every day. … Getting my body right. Weight room, speed, everything. Catching.”

Ngata spent the past couple of days hanging out in the Clemson area, ahead of Pro Day.

He has been training for the draft in Miami and will resume training in California. He plans to be around Clemson some in the future, as well.

“I’m going to try to come back here as much as possible,” Ngata said. “If I’m welcomed, I’m welcomed. If I’m not, I’m going to come in a hoodie.”

Ngata could have perhaps been an important piece in new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley’s Clemson offense.

Instead, he is hopeful that he will get his shot at the next level.

“All my friends stayed. I love it here. When I came back I felt like I was doing what I was supposed to do. I was in the bistro yesterday like, ‘Alright, this is what I’m supposed to be doing.’ I just feel like with my way of life, everything else feels so foreign. But here feels like home. It feels regular when I’m here,” Ngata said.

“It’s sad that I left. It’s sad leaving friends. But business is business at the end of the day. I just have to take care of business. All the friends and everything will come later. When the offseason comes, we’ll get together, be somewhere in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Miami. We’ll be somewhere. But at the end of the day, business is business. They’ve got to get ready for their season and I’ve got to get ready for my upcoming season.”