{"id":25970,"date":"2025-07-21T11:21:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:21:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/25970\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T11:21:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:21:14","slug":"clemson-football-all-time-receiving-yards-leaders-in-tigers-history-entering-2025-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/25970\/","title":{"rendered":"Clemson football: All-time receiving yards leaders in Tigers history entering 2025 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Under Dabo Swinney, Clemson football<\/a> became known as Wide Receiver U.<\/p>\n

The Tigers are trying to reclaim that moniker as they enter the 2025 college football season with one of the deepest and most talented wide receiver rooms<\/a> in the country, as well as one of the top quarterbacks in Cade Klubnik to get the ball to them.<\/p>\n

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Senior Antonio Williams (1,732 career receiving yards) has a chance to vault into the top tier of all-time receiving greats in Clemson football<\/a> history, if he’s able to replicate his 2024 season. Five-star recruits Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore enter their sophomore seasons after promising freshmen campaigns. Both could be instrumental figures in helping the Tigers win back their claim as the nation’s top program at developing receivers, as well as help Clemson<\/a> return to national championship status.<\/p>\n

With only six Saturdays remaining until Clemson opens the 2025 season against LSU<\/a> in Death Valley — the original one — in a nationally televised game (7:30 p.m. ET on ABC), Clemson Wire<\/a> is taking a look at the top 10 leaders in receiving yards in\u00a0school\u00a0history.<\/p>\n

Because the NCAA did not begin counting bowl game statistics as part of teams’ overall records until 2002, three players — including a national champion — in the top 10 are credited with fewer receiving yards in the record books. The NCAA’s decision not to retroactively include bowl game statistics remains an annual source of contention<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Moving forward, the NCAA has said<\/a> that first-round College Football Playoff games in the new 12-team format would be counted among teams’ overall postseason records. To that end, Clemson AD of football communications Ross Taylor told USA TODAY Sports last year that the school “preliminarily intends to count” first-round games toward its overall season records.<\/p>\n

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In any case, of the official top 10 leading receivers in Tigers history, seven played under Swinney. One of those players, Mike Williams, recently retired from the NFL<\/a> after eight seasons, while another (Tee Higgins) is set to enter his sixth year in the league as one of the top targets to watch.<\/p>\n

Here’s a look at the top 10 leaders in receiving yards in Clemson history, along with each player’s best individual season.<\/p>\n

10. Rod Gardner\"Clemson<\/p>\n

Clemson receiver Rod Gardner made a big catch in Columbia during the 1999 game against South Carolina. Clemson won, 31-21. The Greenville News via Imagn Content Services, LLC<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 2,302 yards in 44 games<\/p>\n

Years at Clemson: 1997-2000<\/p>\n

Best Season: 1999 (73 catches, 1,009 receiving yards, four touchdowns, 91.7 YPG)<\/p>\n

Career totals do not include bowl game stats. <\/p>\n

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9. Perry Tuttle\"Clemson's<\/p>\n

Clemson’s Perry Tuttle (22) celebrates after the Tigers defeated Nebraska 22-15 in the Orange Bowl for the national championship on January 1, 1982.<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 2,329 yards in 43 games<\/p>\n

Years at Clemson: 1978-1981<\/p>\n

Best Season: 1980 (53 catches, 915 receiving yards, four touchdowns, 83.2 YPG)<\/p>\n

Career totals do not include bowl game stats, including Clemson’s win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl for the national championship.<\/p>\n

8. Justyn Ross\"Clemson<\/p>\n

Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross (8) scores by Notre Dame safety Jalen Elliott (21) for a 52-yard touchdown during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Saturday, December 29, 2018.Clemson Notre Dame 1st Half<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 2,379 yards in 39 games<\/p>\n

Years at Clemson: 2018-2021<\/p>\n

Best Season: 2018 (46 catches, 1,000 receiving yards, nine touchdowns, 66.7 YPG)<\/p>\n

Ross had six catches for a game-high 153 yards and a touchdown in Clemson’s 44-16 rout of Alabama in the national championship game.<\/p>\n

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7. Tee Higgins\"Clemson<\/p>\n

Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) runs into the end zone for a 62-yard pass touchdown from quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson Thursday, August 29, 2019. Ken Ruinard\/The Greenville News via Imagn<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 2,448 yards in 43 games<\/p>\n

Years at Clemson: 2017-19<\/p>\n

Best Season: 2019 (59 catches, 1,167 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns, 77.8 YPG)<\/p>\n

6. Artavis Scott\"Nov<\/p>\n

Nov 5, 2016; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver Artavis Scott (3) salutes after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 2,480 yards in 43 games<\/p>\n

Years at Clemson: 2014-16<\/p>\n

Best Season: 2014 (76 catches, 965 receiving yards, eight touchdowns, 74.2 YPG)<\/p>\n

5. Terry Smith\"Former<\/p>\n

Former Clemson football standout Terry Smith in scores the winning touchdown in the December 31,1993 Peach Bowl game against Kentucky in Atlanta. Clemson Tiger Shots Memories Terry Smith Peach Bowl. Ken Ruinard\/Staff, Ken Ruinard\/Staff<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 2,511 yards in 43 games<\/p>\n

Years at Clemson: 1990-93<\/p>\n

Best Season: 1991 (45 catches, 758 receiving yards, six touchdowns, 68.9 YPG)<\/p>\n

Career totals do not include bowl game stats. <\/p>\n

4. Mike Williams\"TAMPA,<\/p>\n

TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 09: Wide receiver Mike Williams #7 of the Clemson Tigers makes a reception against defensive back Anthony Averett #28 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the fourth quarter of the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 2,727 yards in 39 games<\/p>\n

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Years at Clemson: 2013-16<\/p>\n

Best Season: 2016 (98 catches, 1,361 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns, 90.7 YPG)<\/p>\n

Williams caught eight passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in Clemson’s win over Alabama in the 2016 national championship game, with the bulk of that damage<\/a> coming in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

3. Aaron Kelly\"November<\/p>\n

November 24, 2007; Columbia, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers receiver (80) Aaron Kelly goes airborne after making the catch that set up the game winning field goal against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the fourth quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Tigers defeated the Gamecocks 23-21. Dale Zanine USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 2,733 yards in 51 games<\/p>\n

Years at Clemson: 2005-08<\/p>\n

Best Season: 2007 (88 catches, 1,081 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns, 83.2 YPG)<\/p>\n

Kelly played in all 13 games of the 2008 season, including the final seven after Dabo Swinney was named interim head coach.<\/p>\n

2. Deandre Hopkins\"Nov<\/p>\n

Nov 27, 2010; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (6) scores a touchdown during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Memorial Stadium. Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 3,020 yards in 39 games<\/p>\n

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Years at Clemson: 2010-12<\/p>\n

Best Season: 2012 (82 catches, 1,405 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns, 108.1 YPG)<\/p>\n

1. Sammy Watkins\"Sammy<\/p>\n

Sammy Watkins #2 of the Clemson Tigers catches a touchdown in the third quarter against Doran Grant #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2014 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Streeter Lecka\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Career Receiving Yards: 3,391 yards in 36 games<\/p>\n

Years at Clemson: 2011-13<\/p>\n

Best Season: 2013 (101 catches, 1,464 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns, 112.6 YPG)<\/p>\n

Contact us\u00a0@Clemson_Wire<\/a>\u00a0on X, and like our page on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0for ongoing coverage of\u00a0Clemson Tigers<\/a>\u00a0news and notes, plus opinions.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson football’s all-time leading receivers headlined by NFL stars<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Under Dabo Swinney, Clemson football became known as Wide Receiver U. The Tigers are trying to reclaim that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25971,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[5183,22716,7588,5695,7585,21824,19687,399,22720,14765,15979,398,396,397,22715,22722,99,22721,22719,22717,22718],"class_list":{"0":"post-25970","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-alabama","9":"tag-antonio-williams","10":"tag-cade-klubnik","11":"tag-clemson","12":"tag-clemson-football","13":"tag-dabo-swinney","14":"tag-deandre-hopkins","15":"tag-football","16":"tag-justyn-ross","17":"tag-lsu","18":"tag-mike-williams","19":"tag-ncaa","20":"tag-ncaa-football","21":"tag-ncaafootball","22":"tag-receiving-yards","23":"tag-sammy-watkins","24":"tag-sports","25":"tag-t-j-moore","26":"tag-tee-higgins","27":"tag-the-tigers","28":"tag-ypg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25970"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25970\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}