Dabo Swinney shares five WRs he has most confidence in ahead of 2023 season

Clemson has long referred to itself as Wide Receiver U, but the Tigers have been unable to live up to that standard in recent years.

There are several factors that have led to the struggles, including injuries and poor quarterback play. However, the group has also struggled to make routine plays at times the past couple of seasons.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney believes that the group will be much-improved this fall, if it can stay healthy. There are five receivers in particular who Swinney mentioned at ACC Football Kickoff that he feels good about.

“It all starts with Beaux [Collins] for us. I mean it’s Beaux, Antonio [Williams] and Cole [Turner] and Adam [Randall] and [Brannon] Spector. Those kind of five guys,” Swinney said.

Clemson has several other talented playmakers on offense at other positions. That includes tight end Jake Briningstool and running backs Will Shipley and Phil Mafah.

“Then you throw [Jake Briningstool] in there and Sage [Ennis], [Will] Shipley and [Phil] Mafah. I think we have as good a group as there is. And it will allow us to compete at the highest level,” Swinney said.

The offense is under new leadership for 2023 as former TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley is now leading the unit. The hope is that with a new OC, a new starting quarterback in Cade Klubnik and several talented playmakers, the Clemson offense will get back to being explosive this fall.

Of course a big part of the equation is staying healthy. Clemson has dealt with injury after injury, particularly at receiver, over the past couple of years.

“Hopefully we can have a little luck this year and keep our top guys on the field from a health standpoint,” Swinney said. “And then we went and signed four guys. So we’ve got some good young depth that I think we can bring along. And hopefully we can bring them along at a good pace, as opposed to having to throw them out there in the fire if a guy got hurt or something.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney shares his confidence level in Garrett Riley, Cade Klubnik

As mentioned, Clemson has a new offensive coordinator this year in Garrett Riley, as well as a new starting QB in Cade Klubnik.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney loves what he has seen from Riley and Klubnik. But Swinney also knows that until the duo goes out and performs on game day, nothing else matters.

As Swinney pointed out at the ACC Football Kickoff, it’s one thing to perform well in practice. It’s another thing to go out and impress under the bright lights.

“We’ve gotta do it on game day,” Swinney said. “I mean I saw some good things in practice, for sure. But I’ll feel a lot better when I see it on game day.”

One aspect that gives Swinney reassurance is the fact that Klubnik and Riley have both excelled in the past, even if they have yet to do so at Clemson.