When Sammy Watkins began practice in August of 2011, it took him one day to move up the depth chart to the No. 1 position at the field wide receiver spot.
Longtime sports information director for Clemson Football Tim Bourret said he could remember just one other player in his 39 years at Clemson who did a similar thing. That player was three-time All-American linebacker Anthony Simmons (1995-’97) who took over as the No. 1 middle linebacker on his first day of practice.
Like Simmons, Watkins went on to become a three-time All-American at Clemson, the first Clemson player to be named a first-team All-American all three years.