Clemson's Dye Ready to Be a Major Part of the Offense

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Fri Aug 14 15:43:25 GMT-04:00 2009

CLEMSON – Clemson wide receiver Xavier Dye said he is looking forward to the season for many reasons, but chief among them is the fact that for the first time in over three years, he will be an active and integral part of an offense.

Dye transferred from Greenwood High School to Byrnes High School just before his senior season, and waited in limbo for half of the season before the South Carolina High School League made him eligible to play.

In 2007 and 2008, the 6-foot-5 Dye played behind Aaron Kelly, the ACC’s career reception leader, and as a result, has just 10 catches to his point in his Clemson career.

This season, however, Dye will be expected to be a major part of the Clemson offense, and he is looking forward to it.

”The last few years have been really tough,” Dye said recently. “My senior year of high school, I missed a lot of games, and when I came here, I was hoping to have more experience out there. At this point, I am just looking forward to the season and being a part. I am just trying to work hard and make the best of it so we can win a championship.”

Dye has used the past three summers to get bigger and stronger, and now packs a solid 210 pounds onto his frame, and said he has added other elements to his game as well.

”I feel really good right now,” Dye said. “I have been working hard over the last three summers to get bigger, stronger and faster. My goal is to catch as many balls as possible, to be the best I can be, and be a part of a great young receiving corps that we have here.”

Dye also said that he doesn’t feel the stress during pressure situations, and he feels like he brings a certain pose to the position.

”At Byrnes, we were under pressure, and we went for it just about every time on fourth down,” Dye said. “Fourth down was like first down for us. When the pressure is on, that is the time you need to relax, and be poised, and pay attention to details. You have to focus on the task at hand.”

And while Dye said that he wants to be a team player, he also has a selfish number in mind when it comes to the number of catches he wants to make this season.

”I would love to catch at least 70 balls,” Dye said. “That would be great. But I will do whatever it takes for us to win. I will go across the middle and make the hard catch. I will make the tough catch downfield, and I will take the slant. Whatever it takes.”