The new Wide Receiver U

It only takes one look at Clemson's roster to see that the Tigers' current success comes from a foundation of excellent recruiting. The roster is peppered with former four and five-star talents on both sides of the ball, but one position in particular jumps out when it comes to the combination of high rankings and success in college and beyond - wide receiver.

The school has become a juggernaut when it comes to recruiting the position, producing current NFL stars like Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins and Martavis Bryant, all while keeping the cupboard stocked with current and future stars like Artavis Scott, Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud III.

But what exactly goes into identifying and landing the right prospects at the position? Tigers co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Jeff Scott says it's not easy, but the school has a system.

"We're not looking for the same type of guy to play every receiver position for us," Scott said. "We want a guy on the boundary with some height that is long and can run and is loose in the hips and make plays over the top and over the back shoulder. The guys we've had in that position are like Mike Williams (2013 four-star) or Bryant (2010 four-star)."

"At our two-man position we're looking for guys like Sammy Watkins or like Artavis Scott or Ray-Ray McCloud. A guy that is kind of like a hybrid between a wide receiver and a running back and that's the guy that we're going to get the ball in his hands as much as possible, whether it's on screens or sweeps."

By recruiting to those two specific outlines, the Tigers have almost been able to plug and play in terms of replacing stars like Watkins and Hopkins without skipping a beat.

This year's recruiting class is no different terms of what the Tigers have been able to do. At this week's Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, a pair of potential future Tigers fit the mold that has led to success in the past. Current commit and Rivals100 wide receiver Cornell Powell fits into the "two-man" position, while uncommitted Rivals250 prospect Diondre Overton (6-5, 194) fits the "nine-man" position previously filled by Bryant, Hopkins and others.

Both players said that the Tigers' success of recruiting and developing talent at the position has played a major part in their interest in the school.

"That's a huge recruiting advantage they have," said Powell, who has been committed since February. "Other schools say, 'You could come here and you could be the star,' but they've really proven it with players in the NFL. It shows that it's possible to make it out of Clemson from the wide receiver position, so that played a huge role in my recruitment."

Overton has played his recruitment close to the vest, but is expected to commit to either Clemson or N.C. State sometime in the next month. The Tigers' production at the wide receiver along Scott's track record is something that could tip the scales toward Clemson.

"The wide receiving coaching staff that they have now really develops their receivers to get them to the next level," Overton said. "I feel like if I was able to go there they could help me reach my full potential."

Powell added that he thinks his current skill set would fit nicely alongside both Overton and the current crop of Tigers receivers.

"We all play differently and we all have our different strengths and weaknesses," he said. "But we all are talented and when we're all on the same team, it's hard to stop, and it shows."

Both Powell and Overton are from North Carolina, and if they were to end up with the Tigers it would make seven former Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas alums on the school's roster at the wide receiver position alone. Scott, who under NCAA rules isn't allowed to discuss current recruits, said keeping the best talent from the Carolinas has been key in the team's success.

"It's very important for us," Scott said. "Obviously we recruit Florida at the position as well but some of our best wide receivers have some from South Carolina and North Carolina. Players like Mike Williams, a guy we identified early… Prior to him we had Hopkins who was just from five miles down the road from campus and has great hands and great ball skills and went to the Shrine Bowl and did a great job."

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell went as far as to say that the Tigers have officially seized the title of "Wide Receiver U."

"I think you can make a case that Clemson has become Wide Receiver U with the success of players like Hopkins, Bryant and Watkins in the NFL and the current crop of receivers that are lighting it up," Farrell said. "Receivers love to play for teams that produce NFL players and provide a fun offense and this staff has done a great job luring guys from not only the Carolinas but Florida as well."

Now that the Tigers have finally gotten to the top of the college football rankings, the key will be to maintain that success, both on and off the field. With the wide receiver position playing a key role, the Tigers are already in the conversation for several top 2017 prospects, including newly minted five-star James Robinson.

According to Scott, as long as he has a say in the matter, the ball will continue to fly around the field.

"Wide receivers want the ball and want to make an early impact," he said. "That's exactly what want from them as well. We've proven that that our guys can come in and play and contribute early and that's allowed us to get to the point where we are today."

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