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Clemson Star WR Could Transfer in Offseason Shocker
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- Clemson Star WR Could Transfer in Offseason Shocker
(USA TODAY Network)
The Clemson Tigers were dealt a devastating blow on Saturday, falling to Virginia Tech by a score of 20-16 and effectively ending their outside shot at a playoff run.
Not that Clemson was genuinely a CFP contender anyway, but had the Tigers gone 10-2 and somehow defeated Miami in the ACC Championship Game, they would have been in.
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But that isn't going to happen now. In fact, at this point, Clemson just needs to hope to be able to qualify for a bowl game.
While the Tigers' defense has, for the most part, been solid, their offense has been nothing short of an unmitigated disaster.
That's due much in part to the passing game, which has been one of the worst in the country this season.
It's been so bad, as a matter of fact, that top wide receivers T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco may want to consider returning to school for another year to rebuild their declining draft stock ... and it might not even be at Clemson.
Let's say that at least one of Moore or Wesco does ultimately decide to forego the NFL Draft and play one more year of college football.
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Is it a guarantee that both of them to do it at Clemson?
Moore and Wesco both entered 2026 viewed as potential first-round talents, but their lack of productivity through the first seven games has all but ruined any chance either player has of coming off of the board on Day 1.
Who is to say that won't continue in 2027 if one — or both — makes the decision to return?
Tait Reynolds doesn't appear to be going anywhere under center. Dabo Swinney has remained committed to him, and the head coach has all but confirmed that he won't be pursuing a possible replacement in the transfer portal.
Swinney didn't outright say those words, but he did recently state that Clemson will always be a developmental program and that he will really only use the transfer portal to fill gaps that have been left by departures.
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In that case, replacing Reynolds wouldn't qualify.
Taking that into consideration, I could absolutely see one of the Tigers' top two receivers transferring to another school that will more properly utilize them in 2027.
Remember: Clemson has three four-star wide receivers in Naeem Burroughs, Gordon Sellars and Connor Salmin likely prepared to assume bigger roles next season, and five-star commit Jamarin Simmons will also be joining the squad next fall.
That could cloud the production of Moore and Wesco even more, and surely, both receivers understand that.
A world absolutely exists in which at least one of the two star pass-catchers opts to play another NCAA season in 2027, but does so outside of Death Valley.
