A versatile weapon, redshirt sophomore wideout Antonio Williams has been vital to the resurgence of Clemson’s receiving corps and offense overall this season.

After bursting onto the scene as Clemson’s leading receiver during his 2022 freshman All-American campaign, Williams was limited by various injuries to only four games in the regular season last year, triggering a mid-career redshirt.

But Williams, back to being healthy again this season, has reminded everyone of his dynamic and explosive skillset while catching 28 passes for a team-high 393 yards and team-leading five touchdown receptions through seven games.

This season, the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder also has 84 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on four carries and is 2-of-2 passing for 62 yards and another score, not to mention he has 112 punt return yards on 11 returns.

During an appearance on ACC Network’s ACC PM show this week, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney spoke highly of Williams while discussing his importance to the success of the Tigers’ offense and quarterback Cade Klubnik.

“Antonio is a difference-maker for us,” Swinney said. “He was a great freshman, and his season was done by game three last year, and that was tough on Cade. Because there’s a guy you’ve spent all summer throwing to, and he and Cole Turner were both done by game three. So, getting him back – he’s just had a great offseason, he is a dynamic player.”

Williams’ dynamic and versatile ability has been on full display in 2024, with the Irmo, S.C., native joining C.J. Spiller (2008 and 2009), Jacoby Ford (2009) and Sammy Watkins (2012) as the fourth Clemson player since 2000 to record a passing touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in a single season.

At Wake Forest on Oct. 12, Williams became the first Clemson player to catch a touchdown pass and throw a touchdown pass in a single game since Spiller accomplished the feat (and rushed for a touchdown) against NC State in 2009.

In last Saturday’s victory over Virginia at Death Valley, Williams recorded three receptions for 44 yards, a 36-yard rushing touchdown (the first of his career) and a 34-yard pass completion, becoming the first Clemson non-quarterback to complete a pass in back-to-back games since the game’s opposing head coach, Tony Elliott, did so as a receiver for the Tigers in 2002.

“He’s thrown a pass for a touchdown, he’s rushed for a touchdown, he’s caught touchdown passes. We’ve got one more area – we need him to return one for a touchdown,” Swinney said with a smile. “So, hopefully that’s coming soon.”

Swinney praised Williams for blossoming into an outstanding all-around player, while Swinney also credited receivers coach Tyler Grisham for the role he’s played in developing Williams, a former four-star and top-100 national recruit from Dutch Fork High School who enrolled at Clemson in the summer of 2022.

“He’s just an explosive, very, very savvy, very technically advanced player, and he’s just become a great leader,” Swinney said. “He takes pride in blocking, you name it, everything. He’s become a complete player. He was not that when he got here, and Grish has done an awesome job in really developing Antonio.”

“He’s a future pro,” Swinney added, “but he’s still got a little more work to do here with the Tigers.”

A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!