Attrition testing Clemson's depth at wide receiver

Artavis Scott has had a stellar freshman season

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Wed Dec 10 07:01:02 GMT-04:00 2014

Three wide receivers enrolled at Clemson last January, making the position one of the deepest on the team. That depth has been tested this season, but help is on the way.

Demarre KittDemarre Kitt
Fr. Wide Receiver
#8 6-1, 183
Tyrone, GA
View Full Profile , Artavis ScottArtavis Scott
Fr. Wide Receiver
#3 5-11, 190
Oldsmar, FL
View Full Profile and Kyrin PriesterKyrin Priester
Wide Receiver (2014)
#17 6-1, 186
Lilburn, GA
View Full Profile all enrolled last winter and took part in spring practice and were each a part of the two-deep coming out of fall camp. However, Priester was dismissed by head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile after the start of the season and Kitt, a former four-star prospect, announced his intentions to leave Clemson via social media Monday night.

The Sandy Creek (GA) product had five catches for 47 yards, and had a season-long reception of 27 yards against UNC. Kitt was listed behind sophomore receiver Mike WilliamsMike Williams
So. Wide Receiver
#7 6-5, 208
Vance, SC
View Full Profile at the boundary receiver position.

"It's almost been a whole year at Clemson and I've enjoyed every bit of it," Kitt's Instagram message read. "But I don't feel like Clemson is the best fit for me. Nothing against Clemson at all, (it) is a great school but I feel my future is better elsewhere. Thank you Clemson fans, teammates and coaches for everything!"

Kitt’s departure leaves only star freshman Artavis Scott out of a highly-touted early-enrollee receiver trio for 2014. Priester found a new home Mike Leach and Washington State in November.

The Tigers have also seen junior wide receiver Charone PeakeCharone Peake
RS Jr. Wide Receiver
#19 6-3, 204
Moore, SC
View Full Profile battle injuries all season, and he was limited to six games, catching 10 passes for 89 yards. That group loses senior Adam HumphriesAdam Humphries
Sr. Wide Receiver
#13 5-11, 193
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile and reserve Daniel RodriguezDaniel Rodriguez
RS Jr. Wide Receiver
#83 5-8, 175
Stafford, VA
View Full Profile after the bowl game, so how will that group have enough depth to counter the losses?

The quick answer is yes.

Clemson loses Humphries’ 25 catches (Rodriguez had 12 in limited action) but are set to return the bulk of their receiving offense next season. That group is led by Williams’ 918 yards and five touchdowns, and he is averaging 19.1 yards per catch. Scott is among the ACC’s leaders in receptions (68) with a team-best seven touchdowns and has shown he can make an impact all over the field.

Germone Hopper started out last spring in Swinney’s doghouse and he has been plagued by drops this season, but still managed to have a career-high 139 yards against North Carolina and wound up with 26 catches for 307 yards this season.

The good news is that there might even better talent on the way.

Former 4-star Trevion ThompsonTrevion Thompson
Fr. Wide Receiver
#1 6-3, 191
Durham, NC
View Full Profile redhirted this season – the coaches held him in reserve after he enrolled during the summer and was behind the three early enrollees – but he has drawn good reviews from Swinney and former offensive coordinator Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
View Full Profile .

That brings us to the next wave of wide receivers, and it begins with Deon Cain of Tampa (FL) Tampa Bay Tech. I had one Florida coach tell me this week that in his opinion Cain is a better prospect at the position than the more-heralded George Campbell, the FSU commit. Cain’s athleticism is off the charts, and even though he played quarterback in high school he has worked out at wide receiver enough for the Clemson coaches to understand what they have – an electric player who will stretch the field.

Add in the rangy Shadell Bell – a 6-3, 190-pound 4-star out of Decatur (GA – and it looks like new playcaller Tony ElliottTony Elliott
Assistant Coach / Running Backs
View Full Profile will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. Those numbers also don’t take into account Ray Ray McCloud and Jae’lon Olgesby, who will both enroll in January.

McCloud is good friends with Cain and like his friend a special kind of talent. McCloud’s father told me earlier this week that the coaches plan to use his son all over the field and in much the same role we saw Artavis Scott this season. Oglesby played running back in high school, but if he had been cleared by the NCAA to play this past season the plan was for the coaches to use him in the slot and in certain packages as a wide receiver.