Clemson Signees Tee Higgins, Amari Rodgers Can Bolster 'Wide Receiver U' Brand

Led by two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson, an explosive Clemson Tigers attack conquered the Alabama Crimson Tide in this year's College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Even though the junior quarterback's remarkable run proved to be his final rehearsal for NFL scouting departments, don't expect offensive fireworks to end at Clemson. 

Bolstered by a bevy of recently signed blue-chip recruits, the Tigers are equipped to light up the scoreboard with regularity for years to come. Receivers Amari Rodgers and Tee Higgins—prized Tennessee products—particularly provide optimism for sustained success in the passing game. 

"We can be a great duo," Higgins told Bleacher Report. 

The 6'4", 188-pound prospect is rated No. 4 nationally among receivers in Scout.com's 2017 class rankings. Rodgers, who stands 5'10", 203 pounds, is also considered a 4-star recruit by the site.

Based on in-person assessment and film study of this cycle's premier pass-catchers, Bleacher Report graded each as top-10 talents at the position during our Recruiting CFB 200 Series this summer.

"We both have the potential to score when we touch the ball," Rodgers said. "He can go up and get it, I can make people miss, and together we're going to cause problems for defenses."

Opponents didn't have many answers against this pair throughout their respective senior high school campaigns. 

Higgins ended the regular season at Oak Ridge High School with 57 receptions for 861 yards and 19 total touchdowns, according to The Tennesseean. Rodgers, who claimed consecutive Class 4A Mr. Football Back of the Year at Knoxville Catholic High School, tallied 1,238 yards and scored 18 touchdowns on just 40 catches in his senior year, according to Chris Thomas of the Knoxville News Sentinel.

"Amari is one of those receivers who is always open," Higgins said. "He finds a way to get open on like every play. He's shifty, and defenses have a hard time stopping him."

Rodgers, the son of former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback and current USC Trojans offensive coordinator Tee Martin, earned first-team all-offense accolades in July at The Opening, an annual invite-only showcase held at Nike's world headquarters.

Damon Griffin, a former Oregon Ducks and NFL receiver who coached at The Opening and preceding regional camps, feels the honor was well-earned.

"I think Rodgers is one of those old-school receivers who is going to outwork you," Griffin said. "He's also one of the most polished receivers out there. That combination of hard work, passion and polish will allow him to make big plays against any kind of defense."

When asked to name a few receivers he would place in contention as No. 1 overall in the 2017 class, Griffin immediately mentioned Rodgers. He then shifted the spotlight to Higgins—a semifinalist for U.S. Army All-American National Player of the Year.

"Tee is a straight-up playmaker—one of the best I've seen throughout the whole year of Nike regionals," he said.

Griffin noted the mentality of both receivers as a large part of the reason they project as collegiate standouts.

"The big thing is their unselfishness," he said. "They understand they can push each other to become better receivers. Because of their character, they're going to put themselves in position to play early."

Griffin alluded to Rodgers' relentless hunger for reps at The Opening, where coaches couldn't keep him off the field in a variety of roles. He also recalled how surprised he was when Higgins beat just about everyone to the regional showcase in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"I'd never seen a top player be the first person at a camp," Griffin said. "That says a lot about his attitude."

Higgins, a former Tennessee pledge, had his choice of more than 20 scholarship offers. Rodgers, who initially committed to USC before joining Clemson's class in February, refused to allow a potential package deal slip away.

"From the beginning of our recruiting process, we've talked about going to the same college together, so it was super important to get Tee at Clemson," said Higgins, whose high school is less than 15 miles away from Rodgers'. "When I committed, it became my goal to get him there with me. I told him we can be trendsetters—two Tennessee boys going to Clemson to do big things."

Higgins turned this ambition into reality July 4, when he released his collegiate announcement with B/R:

Just days after the video went public, Higgins joined Rodgers and heralded quarterback recruit Hunter Johnson—an early enrollee at Clemson last month—as members of the same seven-on-seven team at The Opening. This brief stretch provided an early glimpse of what may ultimately become the foundation of Clemson's next great offensive era.

"It was a great experience because now we have a feel of what it's like to play with each other," Higgins said. "I know Hunter is excited to throw a lot of passes to us."

Johnson isn't the only prep quarterback who hopes to target this duo during meaningful college matchups. Fellow Elite 11 finalist and Tigers signee Chase Brice revels at the thought of what could be in store for Clemson's aerial attack when Rodgers and Higgins hit their stride.

"Both are big-play guys that can change the game in a second," he said. "They are what you look for in a receiver—great hands, footwork, route running, foot speed and (yards after catch)."

That description falls in line with recent Clemson receivers and first-round NFL draft picks DeAndre Hopkins (Houston Texans) and Sammy Watkins (Buffalo Bills). Meanwhile, Martavis Bryant (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Adam Humphries (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) have also proven to be young, impact performers at the professional level when allotted opportunities.

All four of these Clemson products have entered the NFL since 2013, creating quite a run at the position for head coach Dabo Swinney and Tigers receivers coach Jeff Scott.

"A lot of people say their school is 'Wide Receiver U' when they don't really have the proof," Rodgers said. "Clemson is proving it. They've put some really talented players in the NFL these past few years. That's real."

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

Expect the program to produce more compelling receiver prospects from its 2016 roster.

Matt Miller, B/R's lead NFL draft writer, slotted departed Tigers junior Mike Williams as a top-10 selection this spring in his most recent projection, while fellow early entree Artavis Scott is pegged as a later-round pick. 

"Wide receiver is more than a position at Clemson; it's a state of mind," Tigers rising sophomore receiver Cornell Powell said during his recruitment. "When you play wide receiver there, you take that opportunity seriously and personally. 

Key returning contributors Deon Cain, Ray-Ray McCloud and national championship game star Hunter Renfrow will be back in the rotation next season, while an impressive crop of rising second-year players like Powell are also in line to climb the depth chart moving forward. Though Higgins and Rodgers are capable of instantly competing for snaps at any university in America, an immediate rise to prominence isn't necessary at Clemson.

That's ideal, according to Griffin.

"It is such a blessing for Tee and Amari to go into an environment where they can take the time to learn from outstanding receivers who've learned from outstanding receivers before them," he said.

Higgins embraces the competitive environment that awaits on campus.

"It's going to be an amazing group," he said. "Deon and Ray-Ray are already eating it up out there, and they'll be back next year. Hopefully me and Amari can come in and make an early impact like they have."

As their volume of work mounts at Clemson, Higgins understands they can aid each other's development.

"Having [Rodgers] on the other side is big because the other team has to pay attention," he said. "That can create some one-on-one looks with deep balls and jump balls."

New Jersey offensive lineman Noah DeHond, among the earliest commitments of Clemson's 2017 class, refers to his future teammates as "freaks" in the term's fondest form.

"You can see they're going to be huge difference-makers," he said. "I'm pumped about them. They're focused on being great, winning national championships and taking Clemson higher than it already is."

Those are lofty expectations for a program freshly vaulted atop the college football universe after being propelled by one of the sport's most impressive players. Sustained success at this level for Clemson will require a reload-not-rebuild approach that few teams are able to truly pull off.

The impending arrival of Higgins and Rodgers provides further evidence Swinney's staff is up to the task. 

"I don't see our offense falling off at all in the future," Rodgers said. "Tee and I will be ready to do our part."

Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue. All player ratings and information are courtesy of Scout.com.

Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.