This has been an incredible year in the NFL. We saw some awesome players and teams do amazing things. We also saw some bad teams too. From Tom Brady retiring, Derrick Henry almost rushing for 1,000 yards mid-season, to Urban Meyer and Jon Gruden showing their exemplary character and morals. The biggest shockers we saw were the two teams that made the Super Bowl.
If you had the Rams and Bengals in the Super Bowl, then please show me where you have proof. Some may have picked the Rams because they spent big bucks to become a contender this year. Most did not have the Bengals. I do believe outside of the Cincy metro area, no one had the Bengals. They made an unprecedented turnaround. They have made several key draft picks like Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow, but there is one addition that stands out to me. Number 85 for Cincinnati has made noise. Let’s take a look at this outstanding receiver and learn more about the legend of Touchdown Tee.
Early Years
Born January 18, 1999, Tamaurice William “Tee” Higgins burst onto the scene. His parents, Eric Higgins and Camilla Stewart describe him as a polite, mild-mannered child. Touchdown Tee, as he is affectionately known by friends, fans, and family, has been an active person his entire life. Being an avid outdoors person, his parents kept him with outside toys like custom four-wheelers and motorcycles his father made for him, during his childhood years growing up in Tennessee.
Tee has been a sports prodigy all his life. Besides being a standout on the gridiron, Tee was also a known hooper during his childhood. The 6’4″, 215 lbs Higgins was so official as a basketball player, he was offered several scholarships to get it in on the hardwood. While he excelled in basketball, his first love was football. As a senior, he was faced with a difficult decision on where to play college football. He originally committed to the University of Tennessee, but later changed his commitment to Clemson. His uncle Jerome Higgins said that was the best choice Tee could have made. I vehemently agree with that statement.
Tee arrived at Clemson in 2017. He had a quiet freshman season but exploded onto the national scene with his break-out 2018 season. He was named second-team All-ACC and helped Clemson win a National Championship. His 2019 season would be even bigger, and the legend of Touchdown Tee would grow. He was named first-team All-ACC and made a return trip to the National Championship game. This would be his last season as a Tiger because he decided to go to the NFL.
throwback @teehiggins5 pic.twitter.com/dKbqPXcrmy
— Barstool Oak Ridge (@BarstoolOR) February 4, 2022
The League
In 2020, the Bengals would select Tee with the 33rd selection in the Draft. The statuesque playmaker would be paired with the franchise quarterback selected in the same draft, Joe Burrow. Tee and Joe would become a dynamic pair until Burrow had a season-ending injury. That however did not stop Higgins. Higgins would go on to have a breakout rookie season. He would tie a Bengals rookie reception record with 67. He would also finish third among all rookies in receiving yards with 908.
Entering the 2021 season, the highly touted receiver wouldn’t rest on his laurels. He would go on to improve his rookie numbers. In his second season, he would have 74 receptions for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns. He would help guide his team to winning the AFC North and making the playoff. In the playoffs, Touchdown Tee would show his worth. He had two monster games. He complied 93 receiving yards against his hometown Titans, and 103 yards against the heavily favored Chiefs, to help propel the Bengals to the Super Bowl for the first time in over three decades.
Conclusion
If Higgins can keep this pace, he will have the Who Dey nation celebrating a championship. Higgins has shown himself to be an outstanding player on the field, but a great man off the field. Tee has founded multiple charities and was raised by his parents to understand the importance of giving back to his community. Higgins is an exemplary citizen that has made his family proud. Tee has several monikers, and after February 13th, we may be adding NFL Champion and Super Bowl MVP to that list. The legend of Touchdown Tee will definitely continue to grow.
Tee Higgins: 5 games with 100+ receiving yards
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) February 8, 2022
? 5th most among all WRs this season
(? @Bengals) pic.twitter.com/l7vneLCpIs
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