Take Two: Is Ladson the next star WR at Clemson?

Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

In the latest rankings release, Clemson commit Frank Ladson moved to third overall at wide receiver, a big jump for the Miami (Fla.) South Dade standout as he’s now knocking on five-star status.

The Tigers have had such a phenomenal run of outstanding wide receivers in recent years that the program has deservedly been given the title Wide Receiver U.

Can Ladson be the next big-time wide receiver star at Clemson?

In April’s NFL Draft, former Clemson receivers Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud were both sixth-round selections and it’s widely accepted that both probably underperformed during their time with the Tigers.

The year before, Mike Williams was a first-round pick. Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins, Martavis Bryant, Charone Peake and Jacoby Ford have all been drafted since 2010. Tee Higgins looks like a breakout star; next in line to be a stud at Clemson.

Ladson, who had previously been committed to Florida, is a rangy 6-foot-4, 183-pound prospect, who can do it all. He has size, speed, hands, athleticism and playmaking ability.

Can he be the next big-time receiver to play for the Tigers in the mold of Higgins, Williams and others?

“I don’t know if Ladson will be the next big-time perimeter receiver at Clemson, but that’s as much a matter of semantics. Tee Higgins looks on the verge of a breakout year as a sophomore, and here’s believing Trevor Lawrence’s arrival offers the potential to maximize other riches at the position as well.

“But the observers we’ve spoken with who watched him in-person this spring described Ladson as special, and these sources aren’t prone to hyperbole. Clemson has been rather efficient and proficient in developing its receiver acquisitions, and Higgins appears set to follow in former first-rounder Mike Williams’ footsteps as the alpha at the “9” receiver spot. Ladson possesses the blend of height, range, agility and ball skills to soon carry that torch as well.”

“He’s got a chance. He’s very, very explosive. He does a lot of things well. He can high-point the football, he’s got good size but he needs to fill out and get stronger. That’s one of the things he needs to work on.

“He’s a good route runner and an extremely explosive kid. He’s a guy in this class who could end up being a five-star and it’s not really a surprise the way Clemson has been recruiting wide receivers. It is Wide Receiver U when it comes to recent history and recruiting wide receivers. He’s the next great one; a potential first-round draft pick.”

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Monday: Top 10 players revealed | Who was the hardest to rank? | Making the case for the top 10 | A closer look at who is No. 1 | Adam Gorney's Take Two | Stingley's rise to No. 1 | Godfather & Gorney Podcast

Tuesday: New Rivals100 released | Five new five-stars | Farrell's Mind of Mike| Rival Views | Which prospect has the most important summer ahead?

Wednesday: New Rivals250 released | Who did each analyst go to bat for the most? | Five schools that should be most pleased with new rankings | Rivals Rankings Podcast | Rivals250 by the numbers | Should Gunnell have dropped that far? | Take Two

Thursday: QB rankings | RB rankings | WR/TE rankings | OL rankings | Ask Farrell: Which position group is the strongest? | Can Jimbo keep up fast recruiting start at A&M? | Commitment Issues Podcast

Friday: DL rankings | LB rankings | DB rankings | ATH rankings

Saturday: Team rankings breakdown

Sunday: Mid-Atlantic states rankings | Southeast states | Midwest states | Texas | Florida | West