Photo Credit: (Kevin Vandervort/Straight Up Sports)
Few things are certain in the year 2026. Death, taxes and Clemson struggling on offense once again. The Tigers’ QB situation might be one of the worst in the FBS right now, as they've thrown only 2 passing TDs all year. Yes, you read that right. I wouldn’t blame you for fact-checking me on that stat, because I didn’t believe it either when I looked it up. One bright spot, though, has been the return from injury and to form of leading receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. There was a point in the offseason where he was not allowed to do any physical activity, following a brutal neck injury during the 2025 season, so to come back from that and hang 152 yards on the #1 team in the country back in Week 5 is seriously impressive and certainly caught my eye. So, check out my detailed scouting report on Wesco Jr. below:
Background & Measurables
Name: Bryant Wesco Jr.
College: Clemson
Year: Junior
Size: 6’2, 190 pounds
Position/Scheme Fit: Vertical speedster in a spread offense
Former 4-star recruit in the 2024 class out of Midlothian, Texas. He chose Clemson over USC, TCU and Arkansas. He comes from an athletic family with a father in Louisiana Tech Athletics’ Hall of Fame (triple jumper) and a sister who plays soccer at Oklahoma. He was named First-team Freshman All-American per ESPN and the FWAA after he caught 41 passes for 708 yards (a team-high 17.3-yard average) and five touchdowns in 504 snaps over 12 games (11 starts). His 17.3-yard average was the highest by a Clemson player with at least 40 catches since Tee Higgins in 2019 (19.8) and the best by a Clemson freshman with 40 or more receptions since Justyn Ross in 2018 (21.7).
He returned in 2025 and was on track for an all-conference-calibre season through six games before suffering a season-ending injury in the seventh game of the year. That spinal contusion injury forced him to miss multiple games, but he still finished with 573 yards and six touchdowns while averaging an explosive 17.3 yards per reception. He is Clemson’s leading receiver in 2026 with 34 receptions for 378 yards despite a passing attack that ranks worst in the ACC with both Christopher Vizzina and now Tait Reynolds under center.
Scouting Report
Strengths
Has incredible patience as a route runner. Keeps himself unpredictable to corners.
Versatile weapon for Clemson who does everything that's asked of him in a tough offense to play in.
Has the speed and agility to take on deep posts and go balls, even if the Clemson offence doesn’t allow him to show it every week.
Real leader on the Tigers' offense who has shown up in tough spots consistently.
Development Points
Injury history is a worry, particularly when you are talking about the spine or neck.
Doesn't look as comfortable going over the middle; can be hesitant with too many bodies.
Physicality lets him down at the catch point, where he is not an asset in contested situations.
Too many drops in 2026 so far. 4 already through 7 games and doesn't look like a fully natural hands catcher.
Conclusion
Wesco Jr. has been a bright spot at times in what has been another struggling year offensively for the Clemson Tigers. His performance vs Miami was a particular highlight, as he leads the team in receiving, although he hasn't managed to find the end zone once. The Clemson wideout creates separation with crafty route running, quick acceleration and deceleration, and some fluid footwork. He won't win on too many deep contested balls, nor is he the most physical receiver around in college football. If he can clean up the drops, I could see Wesco Jr. landing on Day 2 and having a similar NFL role as Diontae Johnson had in Pittsburgh as his ceiling, albeit Wesco Jr. is a couple of inches taller. Johnson was smooth as a route runner and went on to make a Pro Bowl and eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving back in 2021, although he also famously struggled with drops and to find the endzone consistently.
Grade: 3rd round
Possible team fits: Chiefs, Dolphins, Bills