'More explosive' Tee Higgins could make second-year splash for Bengals

CLEMSON — Tee Higgins is used to being overshadowed on the football field.

At Clemson, Trevor Lawrence got most of the spotlight, while Justyn Ross had everyone’s attention when Clemson thumped Alabama to claim the 2018 national championship. While playing his rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals, Higgins notched 67 receptions for 908 yards and six touchdowns but was often overshadowed by No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow.

In the 2021 NFL Draft, the Bengals decided to reunite Burrow with college teammate Ja’Marr Chase and that is the expected one-two punch for years to come in Cincinnati. However, Higgins is still poised to be a threat as the former 33rd overall pick heads into year two.

“Tee’s gonna play a huge role,” Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan told the media on Wednesday. “He’s got every trait to be a top-level receiver in this league. Obviously, a great rookie year and a great start to his career so far. The key is going to be to take the sophomore jump instead of having the sophomore slump. But what I think’s been unique about Tee is — in the same manner that Joe [Burrow] had the experience — now Tee has had a year of playing against NFL DBs and playing the grind of a regular season and the kind of shape you have to be in, the kind of strength you have to sustain over the course of 16 games, plus a training camp. He came back strong. He looks great physically.”

The 22-year-old is having a strong performance at minicamp and is looking to become one of the better outside receivers in the NFL. At 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Higgins has the size to be a tough matchup for defenses on the perimeter. After building a rapport with Burrow last season, Higgins is looking to grow with the young quarterback in 2021. However, nothing replaces the value of hard work.

“He put a lot of work in in this offseason, from the time we ended the season, to the time he came back, to change his body,” said Callahan. “He’s more explosive. I went back and watched some stuff the other day and looked at his routes on air right now, he’s markedly more explosive. And it’s not necessarily that he’s gotten faster or that he’s a different type of player, it’s just that he’s understanding how to bring those skills into practice every single day.”

This season, Burrow and Chase won’t be the only former offensive teammates having a reunion in Cincinnati. Higgins will be joined by Jackson Carman after the AFC North franchise spent a second-round pick on the offensive lineman. The rookie will compete for a starting spot at offensive guard, and will look to have a similar debut season as his former college teammate.

Higgins is ready to make a jump, and the skill talent infrastructure is there for it to happen as long as the Bengals can keep their young quarterback healthy. With some depth on the perimeter, Higgins could get some favorable matchups that could lead to big plays every Sunday.

“I’m very, very excited about where he’s at and where he’s headed, and he’s gonna be a problem for defenses,” said Callahan.