Watkins fastest freshmen to first team since Anthony Simmons |
From news-press.com
That’s all it took for
Sammy Watkins Fr. Wide Receiver #7 6-2, 200 Fort Myers, FL View Full Profile
to be a starting wide receiver for the Clemson football team. With his combination of talent, work ethic and off-field study, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound freshman from South Fort Myers High has joined veterans
Jaron Brown RS Jr. Wide Receiver #18 6-2, 200 Cheraw, SC View Full Profile
and
DeAndre Hopkins So. Wide Receiver #6 6-1, 195 Central, SC View Full Profile
on the Tigers’ first unit. Watkins will wear No. 7. (Actually #2) Watkins’ move to first team is the fastest by a freshman at Clemson since 1995 when Anthony Simmons became a middle linebacker after two days of practice. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, a wide receivers coach before being promoted in 2008, was absolutely giddy in talking about Watkins as he came off the field on Monday. “Oh my gosh, I’ve never had a kid like him,” Swinney said. “I’ve coached
Jacoby Ford Wide Receiver #6 5-9, 175 Royal Palm Beach, FL View Full Profile
, Chansi Stuckey,
Tyler Grisham Wide Receiver # 5-11, 185 Birmingham, AL View Full Profile
, Freddie Milons. None of them came around this fast. This kid is going to be a great player.” Swinney said it’s not just that Watkins is the fastest player on the field but that he’s a quick learner. “He has an incredibly high football IQ and is incredibly coachable,” Swinney said. “Most guys don’t come in with his focus, like in the film room. He just absorbs it. When he gets on the field, he makes few mistakes. He studies the game; he’s got the instincts and incredible ball skills.
Three practices.
Sammy Watkins 
Jaron Brown 
DeAndre Hopkins 
Jacoby Ford 
Tyler Grisham
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