Dabo Swinney updates how Beaux Collins, EJ Williams fit into Clemson's loaded WR room

Clemson needs to improve its passing game this fall after a disastrous year by their standards a year ago. The defense was plenty good enough to get them to the College Football Playoff. The running back unit was even fairly solid. But the passing game is the primary reason the Tigers fell short of their annual lofty expectations.

The quarterback hasn’t changed, but hopefully the receiving corps at least takes a step up. According to Dabo Swinney’s comments at his most recent press conference previewing Clemson’s Week 1 game, the pass catchers are certainly deeper and more talented.

Take it from the man himself. Swinney was asked specifically about wide receivers Beaux Collins and EJ Williams, who he gave an update on. Then he went on to address the room as a whole and its much-improved depth compared to a season ago. Here was his full answer:

“Oh yeah. They’ve been going since the last couple weeks, last week and a half. They’ve been rocking and rolling and ready to go. So, you know, we’ve kinda got a lot of depth there. That’s the other thing. I mean, we’re just in a different place, you know, and real excited about that group. You know, [Joseph] Ngata has been outstanding. And hopefully he’ll go play like he practices.”

Swinney then noted that several of the guys mentioned are the likely starters for the Tigers.

“Ngata and Spector and Beaux and EJ, that’s been kind of our starters, if you will. We kind of look at those guys as the four starters. But we got nine, ten guys that we really feel good about being able to go play. We got about eight guys that can really play at a high, high level. And I think that’s good competition. But, you know, it starts with those first four guys.”

Every coach loves their depth ahead of Week 1. After Week 4…not so much. But Dabo Swinney has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to evaluating his rosters.