Hunter Renfrow does it all for the Tigers

Renfrow gets a pat on the helmet from Deshaun Watson in the Orange Bowl

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Thu Aug 25 13:59:01 GMT-04:00 2016

CLEMSON – Christian Wilkins nicknamed himself Slash last winter, but he might just have to share the moniker with Hunter Renfrow.

The sophomore wide receiver wears many hats on Clemson’s football team – wide receiver, punter, punt returner and blocker on special teams, but it doesn’t matter what the position he’s always locked in and ready to go.

Renfrow – an original walk-on – surprised a lot of people last year by earning 10 starts and catching 33 passes for 492 yards and five touchdowns, but he told the media after a recent practice that he had several areas which he needed to improve in order to take his game to another level.

“Blocking is one thing and trying to help the team in any way I can. I just have to continue to get better at blocking and doing the little things right,” Renfrow said. “I have to come out every day and treat it like a game. It’s competitive depth - if you have great guys around you, you are going to get better. Every day is a work mentality that you have to get better or you're going to get left behind. Getting better at special teams and I'm trying to be a guy that I might not start, but if I'm a back-up on special teams, I need to be locked in and ready to go. I've got to help this team win because you never know when it's going to be your turn.”

Making Renfrow’s job a little easier is the fact that he has Mike Williams, and Artavis Scott playing the other two receiver positions, Deshaun Watson at quarterback and Wayne Gallman and Jordan Leggett rounding out the offense.

“It definitely helps that Mike and Tay are on both sides of me. So, if they double-cover him, then I'll have one on one,” he said. “I'm just continuing to put in the work in everyday and trying to get better every single day. It's nice if I am getting one-on-one coverage, but at the same time, if they do, we still have to go make the play. I think that sometimes you can get into - if you double team them, we're going to throw it here and it's going to work out - but, we still have to run the route and throw the ball.”

As well as the receivers have done in fall camp, Renfrow said he’s also seen a lot of improvement from the young cornerbacks.

“I feel like we did good. We didn't have as many reps in the scrimmage, but I feel like we didn't have too many drops and the DB's are getting better,” he said. “I know Trayvon Mullen and K’Von Wallace are young, but they continue to improve.”

While Renfrow has been perfecting his craft at receiver, he’s also been working with the punt return team.

“Just being reliable and to make good decisions back there. I think we gave up like 130 yards on balls that hit in front of us and just rolled back, so catching those and making good decisions,” he said. “I can improve and I'm also working on the front line part too and try and hold up guys. If no one holds up, then you're not going to be able to return. Whoever is going to be the guy, I'm just going to be the best I can to hold them up.”

And, at punter.

“I'm kind of the guy for punt team that if something happens I can go out there and punt,” he said. “So, that's good to have I guess. And punt return, just working back there some and working on the front line some. I'm trying to work in anywhere I can to help the team win.”

Now that he’s finally healthy, Renfrow said he realizes the season is just around the corner.

“I hurt it (hamstring) back in the spring and just kind of tweaked it again. It was a blessing for me because I didn't have the sense of urgency that I do now, with missing those three or four days of practice, I'm like, 'The season is on, we gotta go,’” he said. “I have to pay attention to the details and not be complacent. Every practice has to be a game attitude. The hamstring took me out a little bit, but I’m getting back and better.”