Clemson gets commitment from highly-recruited receiver

Clemson landed a commitment from Tee Higgins Monday, one of the nation’s top wide receiver prospects. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Higgins, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., revealed his decision with a tiger paw in the sky fireworks video produced by Bleacher Report.

Higgins once was a Tennessee commitment, and as recently as the middle of June he was publicly touting the Vols, releasing a top five in order of Tennessee, Clemson, Ohio State, Florida State and Ole Miss. But Higgins had a change of heart.

“I just followed my heart, and that’s the place I wanted to go,” Higgins said. “I’ve got a good relationship with the coaches, coach (Dabo) Swinney and coach (Jeff) Scott.”

Higgins said he informed Scott, Clemson’s receivers coach, of his decision Sunday night. He said the opportunity to play for Scott is a big reason he chose the Tigers.

“We really have a strong relationship,” he said. “We built that really good throughout the recruiting process, so it’s good to have that.”

Last season, Higgins had 52 catches for 941 yards and 28 touchdowns. He understands what kind of offensive weapons the Tigers have accumulated for the 2017 season and beyond. Despite losing players like Deshaun Watson, Mike Williams, Jordan Leggett and possibly Wayne Gallman after this season, Higgins says there won’t be any reduction in firepower.

“Oh man, it’s going to be deadly, it’s going be a deadly offense,” Higgins said. “It’s going to be great fun.”

Higgins becomes Clemson’s 11th commitment for the 2017 class and third from the Volunteer State, including receiver Amari Rodgers of Knoxville, one of Higgins’ closest friends. Clemson also took a commitment away from Tennessee earlier this year in quarterback Hunter Johnson. Higgins said it would’ve been the easy thing for him to stay close to home, but that’s not where he saw his future.

“It was hard, you know,” Higgins said. “It’s my backyard, so, it was really hard. But Amari, he’s like a brother to me, so I’ll be glad of that.”

Higgins is also a basketball prospect who averaged 15 points per game last season. He said he hasn’t talked with Clemsonabout playing both sports.

This story was originally published July 4, 2016 at 6:53 PM with the headline "Clemson gets commitment from highly-recruited receiver."