Dabo Swinney: Freshman WR Joseph Ngata Is 'Special'
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers leaves the field after the victory over the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
Dabo Swinney knows wide receivers. He coached the position before being named interim head coach at Clemson, and has helped transform the Tigers into a program that can definitely lay a claim as "Wide Receiver U."
Guys like DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, and Mike Williams have played for the Tigers, and Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins certainly look the part on the current roster. According to Swinney, one of his new receivers might outdo them all, at least so far in his career.
Joseph Ngata, a four-star member of Clemson's freshman class, enters his freshman year as the No. 52 composite player in the class. Don't be surprised if he is much, much better than that.
When asked if there are any freshmen who definitely won't be redshirting this year, Swinney quickly pointed to Ngata. From The State:
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was asked following Monday’s practice if there were any true freshmen players that would definitely avoid a redshirt in 2019.
“Ngata, for sure,” Swinney said, referring to Clemson freshman wideout Joseph Ngata. “Fo sho.”
From there, Dabo Swinney went on to say that he's never had a harder worker than Joseph Ngata, and that includes Clemson's many stars as seniors.
It is hard to heap more praise on one player before his first college snap than Swinney has on Ngata.
“Special. He’s as hard a worker as I’ve ever been around, senior included. I’ve never had a senior work harder. He is one of the most focused, one of the most committed young people I have ever seen,” Swinney said. “It’s amazing to watch him work. Loves to be coached, loves to learn. He’s a sponge. He loves to soak up knowledge, and then he applies it. He’s special.”
Ross and Higgins could form the one of the best receiving tandems in the country. The team is also expecting another gamebreaker at the position, Amari Rodgers, back early from his ACL tear.
Adding in Ngata, if he's as good as Swinney says, and the Tigers receiving unit just feels unfair.
