A former Clemson star is bonding with his new NFL teammate, despite their college rivalry.

Hunter Renfrow, former Clemson Tigers wide receiver and hero of the national championship game, recently made headlines by signing with the Carolina Panthers after a brief NFL hiatus. The announcement came on Sunday, marking a little over a year since Renfrow was released by the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2024. He opted to sit out the 2024 season to focus on recovering from ulcerative colitis, but now fully recovered, he’s returned to the game with the Panthers, located just two hours from his alma mater, Clemson.

Renfrow’s signing bolsters the Panthers’ receiving corps, which is largely made up of talented but unseasoned players. One of his new teammates is Xavier Legette, the Panthers’ first-round draft pick in 2024. Legette spent his college days at South Carolina, Clemson’s fierce in-state rival. Despite their college rivalry, the two players have already started to form a bond. Legette, acknowledging the tension between the two programs, has emphasized that he holds no ill will toward Renfrow. In a recent interview, Legette shared that he and Renfrow have begun building a friendship both on and off the field. The two share a similar background, having grown up near each other, which has made their connection easier.

With Renfrow’s wealth of experience—2,884 yards and 17 touchdowns over his first five NFL seasons—he’s in a prime position to mentor Legette and the other young receivers in Carolina. It will be interesting to see how the 2021 Pro Bowl selection takes on a leadership role with the Panthers in the upcoming season.