The freshman class of wide receivers in 2024 is one of the most exciting classes I can remember. Though the class is highlighted by elite talents in Jeremiah Smith and Micah Hudson, the depth of the class should not be overlooked. In this article, I will dive into two freshman wide receivers who chose to attend the same school. Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore both elected to play this upcoming fall for the Clemson Tigers and both have a chance to be special players on Saturdays and Sundays. Let’s jump in.

Bryant Wesco

High School Production

Wesco was one of the most prolific receivers in the country over the past two years. He managed to reel in 92 catches for 1,691 yards and 25 touchdowns in that span. This averages out to nearly 20 yards per reception and 1.3 touchdowns/game. He showed that he could work the middle of the field and stretch the defense during his high school career, and commonly produced chunk plays with his yard-after-catch ability. His high school career wasn’t limited to football either, as he was also a track athlete participating in the long jump, triple jump, and high jump. His background in these events should help with his explosiveness and potential to be a true athlete at the next level. He also showed some of this athleticism during the spring camp circuit, where he ran a 4.55 40-yard dash and jumped an impressive 36-inch vertical.

Profile

At this point, Wesco is more of a finesse player who does well to create separation with his routes and extend plays after catching the ball. He transitions well from receiver to runner upon catching the ball and should give Clemson a receiver that can create yards after the catch. Wesco accelerates quickly and has the speed to run away from opposing defenders, as seen by his 93-yard reception TD during his junior season.

Wesco is an excellent ball-tracker and solid field-stretcher but lacks in his ability to win contested catches. His length will allow him to catch balls outside of his frame, which will serve him well if he takes snaps on the outside for the Tigers. I think he profiles best as a guy who plays in the middle of the field and isn’t forced to be overly physical. As he fills out his frame, he may be able to provide more of a presence on the outside and as a deep threat.

Spring News

It didn’t take long for Wesco to make an impact on campus, and he has seen some early buzz with the staff. He made an appearance in the spring game and turned some heads with his touchdown reception in the corner of the end zone early in the game. Clemson hasn’t had a true number-one receiver since Tee Higgins and hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Amari Rodgers in 2020. His yard-after-the-catch ability could see him change both of these statements as early as 2025. 

Another advantage that Wesco may have is that he was on campus for the spring, as compared to his freshman counterpart, TJ Moore. We have seen an interesting trend in college football over the past few years where receivers that are on campus for the spring have the upper hand for playing time and devy outlook (see Brandon Innis vs Carnell Tate). The situation with Wesco and Moore will be another one to monitor for this trend, but my money is currently on Wesco to take the ACC by storm.

TJ Moore

High School Production

TJ Moore made an impressive transition from his sophomore to his junior year of high school from quarterback to wide receiver. He then hit the ground running in his first season at the position, hauling in 42 catches for 1,021 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he followed up that performance with a senior season stat line of 50 catches for 1,272 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

Profile

Moore is one of the more refined receivers in his class despite only two seasons learning the position. Perhaps that makes him the most intriguing player to me at any position for the 2024 freshman class. Moore doesn’t have many weaknesses in his game. He has exceptional route-running ability and is effortless and smooth out of his breaks. He isn’t just a route-runner though, as he has the ability to take the top off of a defense. Moore is excellent at tracking the ball downfield and can adjust to any ball thrown his way. He has elite ball skills and his frame allows him to rise up and steal contested catches with one or two hands.

Moore is a player that can excel at all levels of the field and he has the ability to play both on the inside and the outside. If I’m being picky, he isn’t necessarily the best at converting from pass-catcher to a runner and doesn’t appear to be the most elusive player on the field. This may just take some more time for him to fully grasp after transitioning from quarterback early in his career.

Outlook

Moore is a player that we should all be excited about. He may struggle initially to find the field due to the plethora of receiving options at Clemson and because he was not around for spring practices and the spring game, but he just needs to show some flashes throughout the upcoming season for us to fully buy into his long-term value. He has the size, speed, and skill set that should make him a future first-round draft pick in the NFL. With a few more years playing wide receiver under his belt, the ceiling is as high as any other freshman wide receiver. 

Thank you for reading, if you have any thoughts or questions and would like to discuss them, you can reach out to me on Twitter/X @Evan_Kerr_. #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding