Riley Expects Sophomore Leap from Leading Receiver

After enrolling at Clemson last summer, Tyler Brown burst onto the scene and wasted no time making an immediate impact for the Tigers as a true freshman during the 2023 season.

The explosive local receiver from Greenville earned freshman All-American status from ESPN after leading Clemson in receptions (52) and receiving yards (531), becoming just the fifth Tiger since 2010 to tally 50 catches in a freshman season.

Now, as Brown enters his second campaign in Tiger Town, Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley is looking for even more from Brown and expects him to make a sophomore leap in 2024.

Clemson wide receiver Tyler Brown (6) during the third quarter vs. FAU Saturday, September 16, 2023 at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

“I certainly think now, he’s going to take that to another step now that he’s played… now that he’s been in this offense for a year,” Riley said this week at Clemson’s annual media outing.

“So, really look for him to certainly improve from year one to year two. Even though he had a good year one, he’s got to take another big step here in year two.”

Brown also found the end zone four times last season, including a 9-yard touchdown catch vs. No. 12 Notre Dame, a highlight reel one-handed touchdown grab vs. Georgia Tech and two scores vs. Florida Atlantic in just his third career college game, when he earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors and became the first Clemson freshman wide receiver with two receiving touchdowns in a single game since Justyn Ross against Notre Dame in the 2018 Cotton Bowl.

As good of a skillset as the talented 5-foot-11, 180-pounder brings to the table, that’s not the only thing about Brown that has made a big impression on Riley early in Brown’s promising career.

“Tyler’s a guy, what’s incredible about him is obviously he’s skilled, but mentally, he can just handle things,” Riley said. “That’s what I’ve been impressed with, with him, since day one.”

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