The NFL is back. In its first week, pro football treated its audience to thrilling comebacks, pinpoint passes and dazzling catches. Here is a look at five former Clemson Tigers who shone in the Week 1 spotlight.
Trevor Lawrence — quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
After a rocky 2024 season, there were questions about Trevor Lawrence’s potential in Jacksonville. With just one playoff win and a 4-13 season in 2024, there was pressure on the fifth-year quarterback to deliver.
However, Lawrence has quieted some of those concerns after a dominating first game in the Liam Coen era against the Carolina Panthers.
The top priority this offseason for the first-year “quarterback whisperer” was to fix Lawrence’s accuracy issues by tweaking his footwork. Coen had Lawrence place his left foot ahead of his right while lined up in shotgun — the opposite of what the veteran quarterback has always done.
This adjustment forces Lawrence to take an extra step in his dropback, encouraging foot, hip and shoulder alignment while passing.
Lawrence’s extra step worked wonders. He accounted for 190 total yards, throwing for a touchdown and rushing for two first downs. Aside from an unbelievable one-handed interception by Carolina’s Jaycee Horn on a well-thrown ball, Lawrence played a mistake-free game. Thanks to his college teammate, Jacksonville did not require much else out of him in the oppressive 26-10 victory.
Travis Etienne Jr. — running back, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars steamrolled the Panthers by running the ball. Etienne had 16 carries for 143 yards, capped off with a 71-yard scamper as his longest rush of the afternoon. Etienne’s total rushing yards on Sunday were the second-highest of his career.
The rushing performance inspired much-needed confidence within the Jacksonville front office, as the Jaguars traded backup running back Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. Bigsby outperformed Etienne in 2024, and some called for him to be the full-time starter, but that will not be the case for this season.
Things are looking up in Duval County for the former Tigers.
DeAndre Hopkins — wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens
It took DeAndre Hopkins just one target and one hand to make an impact with his new team.
Against the Buffalo Bills, with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter and facing man coverage, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson lofted the ball down the right sideline toward a streaking Hopkins. It was a tight window throw, as Buffalo’s Taylor Rapp closed quickly. Jackson accounted for this and placed the ball high and outside, requiring a tough catch from his new receiver. The former Clemson standout delivered.
Hopkins snared the ball using only his right hand, tumbling safely into the end zone to extend the lead, 33-19.
The Bills would eventually storm back to steal the game on the final play in a thriller, 41-40. Despite the loss, Hopkins posted two catches for 35 yards and that spectacular touchdown, a promising start for the veteran.
Will Shipley — running back, Philadelphia Eagles
Will Shipley is in an interesting position so far this season. Following a strong postseason outing in 2024, Shipley saw a promotion from third string to second following the departure of running back Kenneth Gainwell.
Against the Dallas Cowboys on “Thursday Night Football,” Shipley split touches with starter Saquon Barkley for the first drive and made the most of the opportunity. He caught a lateral swing pass and took it for 20 yards down to the Dallas five-yard line, setting up a quarterback Jalen Hurts touchdown three plays later.
Shipley would later be knocked out of the game with a rib injury, ending his night with three carries for 26 yards. The timing for his return is currently unknown.
Monday added a wrinkle to Shipley’s role in the Eagles’ offense. Philadelphia sent a fifth and sixth-round pick to Jacksonville in exchange for Bigsby.
The Athletic reports that the trade is unrelated to Shipley’s injury and instead has to do with bolstering the kickoff return. Nevertheless, with Bigsby thrown into the mix, Shipley will have to deal with an even more crowded backfield whenever he returns from injury.
Davis Allen — tight end, Los Angeles Rams
Sunday’s game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams was a defensive slugfest that featured few touchdowns. In fact, the matchup only featured two: both by the Rams.
The second was the eventual game-winner, scored by former Clemson tight end Davis Allen.
Trailing 9-7 early in the second half, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford rolled left off play-action and found Allen along the left sideline in the end zone behind two defenders.
Allen’s only catch of the game marked his second career touchdown, a strong start to a season where the third-year player hopes to establish himself as the second-string tight end behind Tyler Higbee.
