Former Clemson WR Frank Ladson once beat Miami. Now he’s a Hurricane trying to beat Tigers
University of Miami receiver Frank Ladson is among a rare group of players who by season’s end can say they played for one team, transferred to another program they previously faced, then faced their original team after transferring.
For 6-3, 205-pound receiver and Miami native Ladson, it’s even more intriguing, as the original team he played for and will have faced as of late Saturday – Clemson University – is now a road trip for him.
Memorial Stadium, known as Death Valley, was once Ladson’s home stadium. And in 2020, the Covid-19 year, Ladson caught three passes from future No. 1 NFL Draft pick Trevor Lawrence for 43 yards – against the visiting Hurricanes. Top-ranked Clemson won that game 42-17 over then-No. 7 Miami.
But despite spending the first three seasons of his career with the Tigers, much of it marred by consecutive seasons of sports hernia injuries which necessitated two surgeries, the fourth-year junior and Homestead South Dade alum missed his family back home.
“It was time to come home,’’ Ladson said in August after transferring.
Ladson now has 27 catches for 298 yards and a touchdown, including two from true freshman Jacurri Brown in the quarterback’s first career start last weekend at Georgia Tech. Last month he became a nominee for national Comeback Player of the Year.
UM coach Mario Cristobal was asked this week how Ladson could help coaches or players preparing for the Tigers.
“It’s mostly just giving a scouting report on personnel,’’ Cristobal said. “What they do is what they do on film. I don’t think you gain an advantage from that respect. He confirms everything we see on tape. It’s a great football team. So there’s not really much deviation from what he’s seen on tape and what he’s told us.
“More importantly, Frank continues to improve and progress. We want him to play a really good football game. That’s the best way he can help us.”
Cristobal said Ladson was “a mature guy’’ in regards to his unique situation Saturday. “
“[When] our players have the opportunity to play in a big game like this, I think motivation should always be really high. We always make sure the focus is on what we’re doing and how we execute. I think Frank has handled that for the most part pretty well, so all in all, just looking forward to Frank playing his best game.”
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney told the Miami Herald at the ACC media days in July he was “really proud” of Ladson. “I’m disappointed he wasn’t able to really enjoy the fruits of his labor and talents at Clemson because he was hurt,’’ Swinney said. “But he graduated, a really smart kid. Hopefully he can stay healthy and have the type of year he’s capable of having and wants to have.’’
