Wesco Dives into Biggest Challenge in Making Jump from High School

Bryant Wesco has experienced a lot of growth during his first season at Clemson.

A former 5-star, the true freshman wideout arrived on campus back in January with a world of expectations on his shoulders.

After logging just 12 snaps in the season-opening loss to Georgia, Wesco has started in every game in which he was available, although he did miss the wins over Wake Forest and Virginia with an ankle injury.

While he was able to earn a starting spot rather quickly, the journey there has not been easy. Wesco had to put in the work, with learning how to read a defense being one of the biggest hurdles he had to cross.

"When I first got here, I barely knew what defensive coverages were. Barely even what defenses do," Wesco said. "I thought it was zone or man. But now I can distinguish what coverages are and being able to read it on the field in live-time. And being able to grow in the aspect of knowledge and also being able to be savvy in my routes and making sure even after the ball is snapped and reading what the defense is doing. Being more reactive in running my routes. I would say being here in general has grown my knowledge, especially being here early more than just coming in in the fall."

Another thing Wesco has learned while playing at this level is that he doesn't have to do it all. There are other receivers on the roster that are able to help contribute. At the same time, that competition also helps fuel the young wideout.

"Going from high school and being in 100% of the time and going to college, they got guys that they can roll in, they got guys all around the depth chart," Wesco added. "Guys get tired and we need to be able to have the depth to roll in. All the guys on the depth chart have been making plays all year. We just got to take the opportunities that we get and make the most out of them. Make coach play you. Make coach not want to take you out of the rotation. I just been trying to prove myself to be one of those guys that needs to be on the field most of the time."

Wesco has been a welcome addition to an offense that struggled to stretch the field a season ago. The true freshman's 17.9 yards per catch is by far tops on the team. It's that explosiveness that has helped the Tigers passing game show so much improvement in 2024.

Through it all, Wesco remains humble, crediting much of what he has learned to receivers coach Tyler Grisham. The true freshman has seen a dedication in his position coach that he wasn't really expecting to see at the collegiate level.

"Pretty much coach Grisham," Wesco responded when asked who has helped him the most. "He's been a great teacher for a receiver. Especially this year. I feel like he is taking the role real personal coming off the year they had last year. He is taking the role personal and helped us a lot this year. Especially going into the season, he really wanted us to focus on being the guy. Being the person for the team. He has sat with us a lot. A lot more than I would have initially thought."

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