A former NFL wide receiver has criticized the Clemson football team’s recruiting strategy, saying there are too many “white guys” on the team after a tough loss.
Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor inductee Roddy White took to social media to lash out at the Tigers after they thwarted a potential upset against No. 1 Georgia on Saturday, with the Bulldogs holding a six-point lead over their rivals at halftime.
Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck threw two touchdowns in the second half, one to Nate Frazier and one to Crash Jones, to tie the game and win 34-3.
After the game, the 42-year-old White criticized the lack of diversity on Clemson’s team.
“Clemson has way too many white guys on the field on offense, this isn’t them. You want to tell me there’s only one black guy making plays, that’s a recruiting problem,” he posted on X.
Clemson football team criticized for not being diverse enough by ex-Falcon Roddy White
White said on X that the Tigers have too many “white guys,” calling it a “recruiting problem”
White played three seasons (2001-2004) for the UAB Blazers, compiling 3,112 receiving yards and 163 receptions.
However, it’s hard to deny that race plays a role in Clemson’s demise over the past three seasons, as they haven’t beaten Georgia since 2013.
What made Georgia’s 31-point win over the 14th-ranked Tigers in Atlanta so special was how unsurprising it actually was.
“When you get a beating like that, it’s the head coach’s fault,” Swinney told reporters. “Full responsibility for an absolute shitty second half. Sometimes you get a beating and that happened today.”
White was inducted into the Falcons’ Ring of Honor in 2019 (seen with owner Arthur Blank)
The Bulldogs aren’t the reigning champions — No. 9 Michigan holds that title — but at 43-2 and with two national titles since the start of the 2021 season, they’re the standard in college football.
This dominant run for Kirby Smart’s team began against Clemson in the ’21 season opener. That night in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Bulldogs defeated the Tigers 10-3 without an offensive touchdown.
Since then it has been a one-sided affair.
“People say what they’re going to say,” Swinney said. “It doesn’t matter what I say. We do what’s best for Clemson. When you lose like this, they have every right to say what they want and write what you want.”
The Bulldogs lead the series against their rivals 44–18–4.