Tanner Muse joins Tee Higgins as Day 2 NFL Draft pick
Tee Higgins had to wait a day later than he was hoping to after being a potential first round pick but not being selected on Thursday, but Higgins didn’t have to wait long on Friday.
The former Clemson star was the first pick in the second round of the NFL Draft, going No. 33 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals. Higgins joins former LSU star QB Joe Burrow as Bengals 2020 draft picks.
The Knoxville native becomes the latest former Clemson receiver to begin his NFL career, joining the likes of DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins and Mike Williams, Clemson products that are all currently excelling in the league.
“It would be great getting to join those guys,” Higgins told The State prior to the draft. “They’re Clemson greats. It would mean a lot to have my name in the conversation with them.”
Higgins did something that no receiver in school history, including those three Clemson legends, ever did during his time with the Tigers — catching double digit touchdown passes in back-to-back seasons.
Higgins accomplished that feat over the 2018 and 2019 seasons, catching 12 touchdowns in 2018 and 13 as a junior last year.
The 6-foot-4, 216 pound Higgins caught 135 passes for 2,448 yards and 27 touchdowns during his three seasons with the Tigers, including a career-high 1,167 yards this past season.
“I thought there’d be a great chance that he would be gone in the first round,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after selecting Higgins. “I spoke with coach Dabo (Swinney) for an hour or so about Higgins and everything he brings... We want championship players. He’s played for a lot of championships”
Higgins helped Clemson reach the College Football Playoff all three years, including catching three passes for 81 yards and a touchdown in Clemson’s 44-16 victory over Alabama in the 2018 national championship game.
Higgins played mostly outside receiver at Clemson, but the Tigers moved him to the slot at times to try to take advantage of mismatches against linebackers and safeties.
“Tee is willing to sacrifice his body and go across the middle. He is a tough guy and he can catch. His catch radius is spectacular. When the ball is in his area, he’s coming down with it,” Taylor said. “We can move him around and play him wherever we want.”
Muse joins former teammates with Raiders
Clemson safety Tanner Muse heard his named called late Friday night as Muse was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round.
Muse went No. 100 overall to the Raiders. He joins former teammates Clelin Ferrell, Trayvon Mullen and Hunter Renfrow in Las Vegas.
Muse finished with 73 tackles, six tackles for loss and a team-high four interceptions in 2019. He is expected to play linebacker for the Raiders.
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 7:17 PM.
