After a year away from football, former Clemson star Hunter Renfrow is making a strong push in his NFL comeback—and Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales likes what he’s seeing.
Renfrow, who missed the 2024 season due to ulcerative colitis, joined the Panthers in late April and has steadily progressed since arriving in Charlotte. The veteran receiver signed with Carolina on April 27, marking his return to the league after his health condition sidelined him for all of last year.
Now in the thick of offseason workouts, Renfrow has started to flash the form that once made him a Pro Bowler in Las Vegas.
“You see weekly he just makes these huge strides, just getting his feet under him,” Canales said this week. “I can tell, too, having coached wide receivers, he’s got a lot in his game – releases, top of the route setup, avoidance, different things where he can double up stuff at the top of his routes – and you can see him kind of working through his inventory, his tool bag if you will. It’s been really cool to watch.”
Canales added that the former Clemson standout’s “muscle memory” is clearly intact, with his explosiveness and precision starting to return as he gets back into rhythm.
Renfrow revealed after signing that ulcerative colitis led to severe weight loss, fevers, and fatigue that made playing in 2024 impossible. Now with the condition under control, the 29-year-old is focused on making the most of this new chapter in Carolina.
Before being released by the Raiders in March 2024, Renfrow spent five seasons in silver and black after being drafted in the fifth round in 2019. He put together a standout stretch from 2019 to 2021, catching 208 passes for 2,299 yards and 15 touchdowns. His 2021 season was especially strong, finishing with 103 catches, 1,038 yards, and nine scores.
Though his production dipped in 2022 and 2023, Renfrow is aiming to prove he still has plenty left to offer—and so far, the early signs in Carolina are promising.
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