Dabo Swinney gives interesting take on comparing Will Taylor to Hunter Renfrow

Will Taylor, Clemson’s sophomore quarterback-turned-wide receiver, is set to contribute for the Tigers in 2022, based on what Head Coach Dabo Swinney has said. After missing most of his freshman season to a torn ACL, Taylor is making big strides at the receiver position in fall camp and while he might not be a Day 1 starter, it seems he’ll get deployed for the Tigers at some point.

After coming to Clemson as a quarterback out of high school, the Clemson coaching staff chose to move Taylor from QB to receiver during his freshman year. An ACL injury in Week 4 derailed his progress, but Taylor has seemingly picked up where he left off. Recently, Swinney got asked how Taylor stacks up against former Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow.

“The difference is Renfrow spent that whole redshirt year working on the craft,” Swinney said about the difference between Taylor and Renfrow. “Will, that fourth game, we were just starting to transition him, switch meeting rooms and all that. Two plays in or whatever and he’s out. So, that’s the difference. And you see that. He looks like a freshman out there.”

Swinney lauded Taylor for his physical attributes and play style, both of which helped prompt the move to receiver in the first place. But the nuance and finer points are still very much a work in progress.

“He’s so natural as far as just — he’s explosive, he’s fast and he’s strong,” Swinney said. “He’s compact. He’s a really good finisher on the ball. All that stuff’s natural. But the route running, the influence, the break points, the nuances of the position, he’s like a true freshman out there. Because he hasn’t done it. Playing with your hands. He’s just never done it. But he just gets better every day, because he’s such a worker, such a grinder.”

Swinney also used the chance to bring up freshman receiver Antonio Williams, who has apparently impressed Clemson’s head man. Swinney thinks both Williams and Taylor — former high school teammates — will be on similar levels this year for Clemson.

“And Antonio, he’s not as strong as Will, he’s just more natural because it’s what he’s always done. They’re going to both end up in the same spot when it’s all said and done,” Swinney said of Williams and Taylor. “Will’s just going to keep getting better and better and better. Just where we thought he’d be. The difference is, we wished we would’ve had him last year to work through some of these things that we’re working through right now.”