White Chocolate continues to surprise

Humphries has nine catches for 70 yards this season.

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Wed Nov 16 13:17:41 GMT-04:00 2011

CLEMSON – White Chocolate is used to taking people by surprise.

White Chocolate is the nickname given to Clemson freshman receiver Adam HumphriesAdam Humphries
Fr. Wide Receiver
#13 6-0, 190
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile by his teammates, perhaps surprised by his athletic ability.

Humphries burst onto the scene in fall camp, avoided a redshirt, and has contributed to this season’s Atlantic Division title, but when he came out of Dorman High School a year ago he was overshadowed by teammate Charone PeakeCharone Peake
Fr. Wide Receiver
#19 6-3, 205
Moore, SC
View Full Profile – another Tiger signee – and was almost the forgotten man when fall camp started. Now, he stands to be a major part of the Clemson offense if Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
Fr. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 200
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile can't play or is limited at N.C. State next Saturday.

Humphries said he didn’t expect to redshirt, and said his athletic ability has always surprised people.

“It has been a big transition for me, from coming into fall camp and wondering if I would redshirt to actually being a contributor to the Atlantic Division champion,” Humphries said Tuesday. “I didn’t expect to redshirt, though, I just knew I would come out and do my best and however it turned out, it turned out. But I worked hard so I could play this year.

“Every team I have played for, I have surprised people. That is just what I do. I go out there and I give it my all, no matter what people think about. It’s fun to surprise people, and go out there and execute. I go out there to every practice, and I compete and I improve every day.”

Humphries has nine catches for 70 yards this season, but none bigger than the catch he made this past Saturday after he had to replace freshman sensation Sammy Watkins. Watkins had been driven out of bounds on the Wake Forest sideline, and when he got up, he trotted ever-so-slowly to the Clemson sideline in obvious pain.

The question that was asked all through the crowd was: Would the Tigers be able to overcome the loss of their most dynamic playmaker? And who would pick up the slack?

The answer was obvious as veterans such as tight end Dwayne AllenDwayne Allen
RS Jr. Tight End
#83 6-3, 255
Fayetteville, NC
View Full Profile and wide receivers Nuk Hopkins and Jaron BrownJaron Brown
RS Jr. Wide Receiver
#18 6-2, 200
Cheraw, SC
View Full Profile each made critical plays down the stretch. But it was also the play of Watkins’ replacement that helped set up Clemson’s final, game-winning field goal.

“I didn’t want to be a downfall for our team,” Humphries said. “I just wanted to play my game and execute the best I could and it worked out for the best. It was kind of a shock to me when Sammy went down, because he has been so durable all year. He has never really been hurt or banged up, so when I heard that he was out for the game I knew my role and I knew I had to step it up and do the best job that I could.”

Humphries said he didn’t doubt for a moment that he could step into Watkins’ shoes.

“That is the great thing about this offense,” he said. “It is so explosive, and we have a ton of playmakers. If someone isn’t hot then you can throw it to someone else. And if someone goes out – like Sammy – then I have to go in and you know they have the confidence in you to make a play.”

The coaches proved that confidence in Humphries with just less than 15 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game. Facing a 2nd-and-10 at the Wake 34-yard line, offensive coordinator Chad Morris called on Humphries to get the Tigers into better field goal range.

Quarterback Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS So. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile threw a swing pass out to the freshman, who tucked the ball securely and lowered his head while battling his way to the 26-yard line. A few seconds later, Catanzaro drilled a 43-yard game-winning field goal and Humphries was able to celebrate an ACC Atlantic Division championship.

“That was a big deal for me for them to call my number with just a few seconds left in fourth quarter,” Humphries said. “That was to help us get into field goal range, and that meant a lot to me and I didn’t want to let my teammates or the coaches down.”