There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and Clemson’s No. 1 always being open.
On Saturdays in the fall, T.J. Moore’s name almost grew repetitive in the monotone voice of the PA announcer. Even though he’s only a sophomore, Moore led the team in receiving, racking up 837 yards on 52 receptions for four touchdowns.
Moore became a fan favorite this year for his acrobatic catches, especially as the Clemson receiving room became plagued by injuries. Although he was Cade Klubnik’s favorite target, Moore’s most memorable play of the year came from a pass from fellow wide receiver Antonio Williams.
To set the scene, a brisk but sunny fall afternoon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, found Clemson facing off against North Carolina — a game in which both teams disappointed their fanbases by playing below expectations.
On the first play from scrimmage, Klubnik turned and fired a screen pass to Williams. As the Tar Heel defense came screaming downhill at the senior wideout, Williams lofted the ball over all their heads into the arms of Moore, breaking down the sideline. Once in open space, no one was catching him, crossing the goal line for a 75-yard touchdown.
Even in enemy territory, Moore gave Clemson fans hope and excitement, regardless of the season’s overall success. He was at the heart and soul of every Clemson cheer.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver first became a household name in his freshman year, when he and fellow freshman wideout Bryant Wesco Jr. took the college football world by storm. In his first season in the NCAA, Moore was third on the team in receiving behind Wesco and Williams.
His most memorable game of that season came in a loss against the University of Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoffs. To the eyes of Texas’ defense, Moore turned part ghost, finding every gap on the field. Even when he was visible, Moore took full advantage, reining in two over-the-shoulder deep balls by Cade Klubnik down the sideline to keep the Tigers within striking distance in the fourth quarter. He finished the loss with nine catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Lucky for Clemson, Moore carried his momentum from the 2024 season into 2025.
Early on in the season, the offense, including Moore, struggled to move the football. But the sophomore came alive against Syracuse before putting up one of what would be three 100-yard games against UNC the very next week.
Following several injuries in the receiving room, Moore had to pick up some of the slack and find a way to be an outlet on Klubnik dropbacks. Sure, the season may not have gone the way everyone hoped for, but Moore was one of the players who actually exceeded the high expectations he faced.
Moore has two years of eligibility left in college football, and despite the possibility of a bigger payout elsewhere, the rising junior wide receiver chose to stay with the Tigers in 2026, and Clemson fans couldn’t be more pleased.
As certain as anything in life, on a Saturday in Death Valley, No. 1 will be tracking down a deep throw, dodging defenders and scoring touchdowns: all the things that lead to fans voting him as the Best Male Athlete of 2026.
@m5ore_ (Instagram) // @tjmoore305 (X)
