Next in line? Tee Higgins ready to join group of Clemson receivers excelling in NFL
Tee Higgins came to Clemson in part because of the success Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins had during their time with the Tigers and eventually in the NFL.
He leaves Clemson on equal footing in many ways to those Clemson legends, and is anxious to try to make a name for himself in the NFL as well.
“It would be great getting to join those guys,” Higgins recently told The State. “They’re Clemson greats. It would mean a lot to have my name in the conversation with them.”
The Tennessee native finished his illustrious career with 27 receiving touchdowns — tying Watkins and Hopkins for the most in school history. And Higgins is the only player in school history to record back-to-back seasons of double digit touchdowns, catching 13 TD passes in 2019 and 12 in 2018.
Higgins is squarely in the conversation for the best Clemson receiver of the last decade — alongside Watkins, Hopkins and Mike Williams, who caught a career-high 49 passes for 1,001 yards for the Chargers last season.
“He’s just really, really worked his tail off from a fundamental standpoint, a technique standpoint, physical standpoint, his knowledge of the game, and he’s just become a very talented route runner,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said of Higgins. “He’s got some freaky ball skills. He can make any type of catch. He’s got kind of DeAndre Hopkins-type ball skills. He’s got Mike Williams length. But he’s got some explosiveness to him, as well.”
Hopkins (2013), Watkins (2014) and Williams (2017) were each drafted in the first round of the NFL draft when they came out, and there is a strong chance that Higgins will become the fourth Clemson receiver to be drafted in the first round since 2013 on Thursday.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper projects Higgins to land with the Packers at No. 30 overall, as does ESPN’s Todd McShay. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Higgins landing with the Vikings with the 25th overall pick.
“I’m getting a little anxious,” Higgins said. “Just waiting for that day to come around and just pray to God.”
Higgins plans to be with his family on draft day and will not have a typical draft party due to the coronavirus.
The pandemic altered the way he planned on training for the draft but he spent lots of time working out with former Clemson teammate and Tigers senior receiver Amari Rodgers in Knoxville, where Higgins and Rodgers are both from.
“It’s good. We’re just pushing each other and getting each other better every day,” he said.
Higgins will miss playing with Rodgers, Trevor Lawrence and the other Clemson teammates he formed a bond with during his three years at Clemson.
“Really just going out there and competing with my teammates. That’s something that I’ve missed since I’ve been gone. Just being able to hang around them,” Higgins said.
But he is also anxious to show what he can do at the next level.
“I’ve just got to go out there and be me. I’m a dominant player that’s going to attack the ball at the highest point,” Higgins said. “I’m going to bring positive energy and a positive mindset to a locker room. I’m going to be a workhorse.”
