Cotton Bowl | Renfrow Believes Tigers Are Explosive

Notre Dame is in the College Football Playoff for the first time but Clemson will be making its fourth straight appearance as the Cotton Bowl will host the showdown on December 29th. 

Tigers receiver Hunter Renfrow has been through it all in his time at Clemson, including going on scholarship, catching a pass to win a National Championship but also experiencing a tough 24-6 defeat to Alabama a year ago. 

The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder recorded 43 receptions for 472 yards and one score this fall but feels the Tigers offense is very different than last year.

“Just a little different, a little more experience, I would say,” stated Renfrow. “We still have Justyn [Ross] outside that's a freshman and a few more freshman pieces. But I would say, just the experience we have and just being on that team last year and not finishing the way we wanted to, I think it's definitely going to help us as we finish, hopefully well, this year.”

Clemson’s receivers have produced this fall as four receivers have over 400 yards and its led by Tee Higgins, who has recorded 52 catches for 802 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

The guy getting them the ball is true freshman Trevor Lawrence, who took over for senior Kelly Bryant, and has yet to have a freshman moment. 

“That quarterback switch seemed like three years ago,” explained Renfrow. “It seems like so much time has passed. Trevor has had 13 games under his belt. He’s a freshman, but he plays like a sophomore. 

“He's had a whole year under his belt and he's really just gotten better every week.”

The progression of Lawrence has been impressive and the stats back up Renfrow’s comments. 

The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder threw for 2,606 yards, 24 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

“Trevor has come in and he's gotten better,” stated Renfrow. Just seeing his preparation from week to week, I got to spend some time with him in the quarterback room. So just seeing from the third week to the fourth week to the fifth week, just how he slowed everything down. He was able to process everything and really command the attention of the team. 

“I think, after Kelly [Bryant] left, it was just a big improvement from that standpoint - Trevor, getting all the guys together and leading the charge.”