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Heisman Winner [81475]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 5:10 PM
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Lots of great kids have signed to CLEMSON so far.
Will any have impact on the 2025 season?
Sammy Brown surely made impact last season.
Who are others?
My memory is one of the first expected to impact was Roscoe Crosby.
I was at the opening game. On the first play -> ball was tossed to him.
Willy Korn arrived as a savior, had hard luck.
Trevor came in with high expectations, and as a Freshman exceeded them.
I was at an audio gear retreat in the mountains for Sammy Watkins first game. I watched on TV and was amazed.
Deshawn Watson amazed as a Freshman.
James Davis had a great first year.
CJ Spiller was awesome in his.
Etienne came on late in time to punish Alabama.
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Orange Blooded [2375]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Anthony Simmons, Robert ONeal
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Jun 17, 2025, 5:30 PM
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nfm
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Game Changer [1899]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Anthony Simmons, Robert ONeal
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Jun 18, 2025, 10:54 PM
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Some great ones mentioned here, but one not mentioned yet is Terry Allen. He was incredible as a true frosh. If I’m not mistaken he was close to 1000 yards in an era of fewer games and done it playing behind McFadden. Will never forget that cutback run on the final drive vs Georgia to seal the game. Allen was just electric. Watch the final drive.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ-mhm-n4HY
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Tiger Spirit [9447]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Anthony Simmons, Robert ONeal
Jun 19, 2025, 11:34 AM
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Loved TA. One of my all time faves but wasn’t he a RSF? He came in as a CB I believe.
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1st Rounder [603]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 5:31 PM
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Trevor!
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Hall of Famer [8345]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 5:34 PM
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Sammy Watkins came in hot
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Valley Legend [12905]
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 5:36 PM
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From game #1 to game #12 I would say Sammy Watkins. He started fast and never slowed down!
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Orange Immortal [63035]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 17, 2025, 7:13 PM
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Well, his weed episode slowed him a bit that season while on Dabo's chit list!!!
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Hall of Famer [8467]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 7:18 PM
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That was his sophomore year.
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CU Guru [1576]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 5:37 PM
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Sammy
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Solid Orange [1392]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 5:43 PM
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Anthony Simmons hands down
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Oculus Spirit [39759]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 6:03 PM
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My thought too. I was in my late 20s watching this guy and couldn't believe how disruptive he was at the LB position.
Not oversized , fast as heyall and a tackling machine !
Agree on AS.
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Rival Killer [3035]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Asst Coach [840]
TigerPulse: 94%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 5:55 PM
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William Perry.
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MVP [531]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 8:49 PM
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The right answer. As time goes by people forget but he was dominate as a freshman.
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Dynasty Maker [3383]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 5:58 PM
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All the ones that have been mentioned so far are great players as soon as they hit the field. It's a difficult choice for sure.
On a side note I remember one of the most dynamic players for Clemson was Woody Dantzler. At times he was a magician running the ball.
Come on Football Season
GO TIGERS
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Ring of Honor [21302]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2002
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Best Freshman was Justin Miller.
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Jun 17, 2025, 6:10 PM
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He was amazing straight out of the box
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Athletic Dir [1165]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 6:19 PM
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For my memory: Sammy Watkins.
Clemson (and bear with me, I was born in ‘93) had never had such a dynamic receiver.
Coupled with the spread offense the dude straight up balled. I need to look up the stats, but it felt like his freshmen year was his best year.
As an aside, I feel like we had a pretty nasty D-lineman or two: maybe big Dex or Clelin Ferrel idk if either popped of as a frosh.
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All-In [10117]
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Sammy Watkins***
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Jun 17, 2025, 6:31 PM
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Game Day Hero [4443]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Anthony Simmons
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Jun 17, 2025, 6:33 PM
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Best defensive player I have ever seen with a Paw on his helmet, followed by Jeff Davis. Simmons was a heat seeking, violent missile....fast as a WR, hit like a tank.
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All-TigerNet [5888]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Anthony Simmons
Jun 18, 2025, 11:05 PM
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i took him for granted for those years, wish i could see him play again on one of our great teams, gosh he was good....and a good guy too, helluva good person, no trouble, no hidden agenda, led by example
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Solid Orange [1306]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Sammy.***
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Jun 17, 2025, 6:49 PM
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Orange Blooded [2552]
TigerPulse: 87%
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Not really close in my opinion...
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Jun 17, 2025, 7:17 PM
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Trevor Lawrence #1. Won a national title
Sammy Watkins #2
CJ Spiller #3
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Orange Immortal [63035]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Not really close in my opinion...
Jun 17, 2025, 7:28 PM
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Everybody mentioned was really good Clemson players, but IMO none were better than William the Fridge Perry at the college level!!!
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Athletic Dir [1166]
TigerPulse: 81%
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Asst Coach [844]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 17, 2025, 7:18 PM
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Anthony Simmons, Sammy Watkins, William Perry and Terry Kinard. Take your pick!!
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Hall of Famer [8603]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 17, 2025, 7:21 PM
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I will go with Sammy then the Fridge.
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Hall of Famer [8603]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 17, 2025, 7:23 PM
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Upon a little thought I would move Fridge down to 5 or 6. Gotta say Trevor, Sammy & DW4.
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TigerNet HOFer [122063]
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 7:23 PM
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Watkins, right of hter gate against UGA, never looked back
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Orange Blooded [2552]
TigerPulse: 87%
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The game against UGA was his sophomore season
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Jun 17, 2025, 10:17 PM
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His breakout performances as a freshman came against Auburn and the next game against FSU
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1st Rounder [660]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 17, 2025, 7:40 PM
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Ronald Williams as running back in 1990 deserves a mention.
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CU Medallion [18701]
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 7:54 PM
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Don't sleep on Dexter Lawrence. He had 63 tackles as a Freshman (23 solo and 40 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. That's un real for a freshman DT.
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Clemson Conqueror [11436]
TigerPulse: 73%
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Mitch Hyatt.
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Jun 17, 2025, 8:02 PM
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So underrated.
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Associate AD [1008]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Great call
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Jun 17, 2025, 9:22 PM
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Mitch was immediately plugged into the line and never left. Really great player.
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Tiger Spirit [9358]
TigerPulse: 98%
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Anthony Simmons
Jun 17, 2025, 8:07 PM
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Immediately the alpha dog
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Ring of Honor [21002]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2010
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 8:15 PM
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1. Trevor Lawrence
2. William Perry
National Championships. The ultimate impact.
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All-American [588]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 17, 2025, 8:22 PM
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I'm with Trevor too. But I remember watching William Perry. He was beyond special. And the era he came from it was even tougher to come in as a freshman and dominate the way he did. Love The Fridge.
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Top TigerNet [31089]
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 17, 2025, 8:23 PM
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Sammy Watkins
Andre Ellington
Those two come to mind first.
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Hall of Famer [8324]
TigerPulse: 97%
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TREVOR LAWRENCE is Clemson's ALL TIME GREAT FRESHMAN
Jun 17, 2025, 8:46 PM
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he never played 4 quarters and the teams scoring was off the charts
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CU Medallion [19511]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Hard to beat Watkins and Lawrence overall.
Jun 17, 2025, 8:52 PM
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Game Changer [1871]
TigerPulse: 88%
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Brian Dawkins ****
Jun 17, 2025, 8:55 PM
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Associate AD [1008]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Sammy. Immediate and obvious pro talent and impact.***
Jun 17, 2025, 9:22 PM
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Clemson Conqueror [11784]
TigerPulse: 97%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
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Jun 17, 2025, 9:59 PM
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Christian Wilkins / Mitch Hyatt as co-#1 greatest true Fr.
Both started right out the gate. Both were healthy all year (also healthy all four seasons).
Without both of them playing at ridiculously high levels (and lack of high quality / comparable ability depth behind them) at critically important positions (with Hyatt being the most irreplaceable), then we don’t sniff the Nat Championship matchup vs Bama (that we ‘lost’ because refs did not call offsides on Bama during their on-sides KO in 4th Qtr).
Why are these two the best ever true Fr? Because both set the table for not just one, but TWO national championships. D.Watson, T.Etienne, T.Lawrence, T.Higgins, Fridge Perry, T.Kinard, etc etc etc cannot make a similar claim.
(Fridge Perry is my #2 true Fr of all time.)
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Paw Warrior [4850]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 17, 2025, 10:37 PM
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I agree with Christian Wilkins. Hunter Renfrow deserves a mention as well
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All-TigerNet [6008]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Sammy Watkins
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Jun 19, 2025, 11:23 AM
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The first game against Troy was special and he never took his foot off the pedal.
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Ultimate Clemson Legend [103395]
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Sammy Watkins***
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Jun 19, 2025, 11:31 AM
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Game Day Hero [4426]
TigerPulse: 97%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 19, 2025, 12:02 PM
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1. Anthony Simmons
2. Sammy Watkins
3. Trevor Lawrence
4. CJ Spiller
5. Justin Miller
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Clemson Sports Icon [53695]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Best Ever as a Freshman
Jun 19, 2025, 12:06 PM
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Christian Wilkins, Trevor Lawrence & Big Dex all on one team, a crazy bunch of talent.
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Replies: 47
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