Clemson leading receiver Tee Higgins makes NFL draft decision
Wide Receiver U is losing its top wideout.
Clemson leading receiver Tee Higgins announced Wednesday afternoon on Twitter that he is entering the NFL draft rather than returning to school for his final season.
The junior said after Monday’s national championship game that he was torn on his choice, but he has decided to move on.
Higgins caught 59 passes during the 2019 season, leading the Tigers with 1,167 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He also scored on a touchdown run, finding the end zone from 36 yards out on a reverse during the national title game.
“The last three years at Clemson have been unbelievable,” Higgins said as part of a statement on Twitter. “It has always been my dream to play in the NFL and take care of my family. Because of Clemson I now have the opportunity to do that. So it is with a grateful heart that I announce today my intention to enter the 2020 NFL draft.”
The loss of Higgins means that Clemson will lose two of its top four receivers off of this past season’s team as the Tigers will also be without senior Diondre Overton in 2020. Overton caught 22 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns this past season.
Clemson returns its leader in receptions in Justyn Ross, who caught 66 passes for 865 yards and eight scores, as well as its No. 3 receiver Amari Rodgers, who caught 30 passes for 426 yards and four touchdowns.
With Higgins moving on, Joseph Ngata, Cornell Powell and Frank Ladson will be counted on to have bigger roles next season.
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 2:46 PM.
