Swinney: Freshman WR ‘Exactly What We Hoped He Would Be’

Last Thursday, before Clemson began fall camp, head coach Dabo Swinney said he couldn’t wait to get on the field and watch talented true freshman wide receiver T.J. Moore.

On Tuesday, Swinney met with the media again and shared what he’s seen from Moore so far, as he goes through his first camp with the Tigers after enrolling this summer.

Swinney acknowledged that while Moore has a lot to learn and plenty on his plate from an installation standpoint, the former five-star and consensus top-50 national prospect is “exactly” what the Tigers hoped they were getting.

Clemson wide receiver T.J. Moore (1) during the Tigers’ opening day of fall camp Thursday, August 1, 2024. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

“He’s a natural, like I hoped he would be,” Swinney said. “He’s got a lot to learn. I mean, it’s a lot. It’s a bunch of installation, six days of installation. But he’s everything you want. He’s just a natural when it comes to ball skills and things like that. But he’s got a lot on his plate right now from a learning standpoint. But he competes every day, and we’ve just got to keep bringing him along. I’ll be excited to see him get some live work this weekend.

“But he’s progressing. He’s got a good group of guys out there, and mentally, I think he’s getting better and better every day. Again, it’s a lot on him. … So, we’re kind of keeping him in one spot right now. But he’s exactly what we hoped he would be. He’s got great skills and he’s got good change of direction.”

Swinney added that not only is Moore a talented player, but he’s a great person as well.

“He’s just a great kid, man,” Swinney said. “I love his demeanor, I love just his makeup. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, he’s got good self-awareness. He’s just a low-maintenance kid who loves to play ball.”

Moore tallied 92 receptions for 2,293 yards and 30 touchdowns across his junior and senior seasons at Tampa (Fla.) Catholic while averaging 96 receiving yards per game. The 6-foot-3, 198-pounder posted 100 receiving yards in 12 games over his final two years.

As a senior, Moore recorded 50 catches for 1,272 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging 25.4 yards per catch and 106.0 yards per game. He scored at least one touchdown in nine of his 12 games.

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