Garrett Riley identifies similarities between Adam Randall, Quentin Johnston

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley has coached a lot of great wide receivers over the years, including former TCU star Quentin Johnston. Tigers wide receiver Adam Randall could be the next one in Riley’s rolodex.

Randall enters the 2023 season with high expectations. He tore his ACL during spring practice in 2022 but still made it back to play in 12 games.

“There’s some similarities,” Riley said during a press conference Wednesday. “You know, he’s probably a little more physical. He’s heavier but they have some similarities with their game. I would say he’s probably a little bit more of a physical person when he runs the ball and blocking and sort of those things of the physicality part of the game at wide out, but they have some similarities for sure.”

Randall is listed at 6-foot-2.5 and 225 pounds while Johnston was listed at 6-foot-4 but only 215 pounds. At the NFL Combine, Johnston weighed in at just 208 pounds.

A four-star recruit and top-100 player coming out of Myrtle Beach (S.C.) High, Randall was the No. 94 overall prospect in the 2022 On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.. Last season, Randall made 10 catches for 128 receiving yards. He played in 290 snaps.

He was listed as a potential starter for the Tigers heading into their Week 1 matchup versus Duke alongside Cole Turner.

The other wide receiver starters are Antonio Williams and Beaux Collins with Jake Brinningstool lining up at tight end.

Early in fall camp, Randall talked with the media about how he was feeling now that his knee brace was off and he was fully recovered from the injury.

“Yeah, I feel like I was 100 percent physically,” Randall said. “The mental aspect of it, just not being able to go out there and practice with the team for an entire fall camp. I’m forever thankful to be out there and go out there in the heat and run around a little bit.

“Just with the team and being able to gel with the quarterback at that. I feel like throwing the brace to the side and not having that on my leg made me get back up to my top speed and get in and out of my break faster. So, I feel like just not having that brace on my leg has really helped me out a lot. And just going out there and being able to play free.”