Antonio Williams was sitting in Charlotte, N.C., watching the second day of the NFL Draft in front of a colorful cluster of 32 NFL hats when he got a phone call from Washington Commanders General Manager Adam Peters.

Within seconds of the first ring, Williams got some long-awaited news that made him disregard every hat except one with a red brim and gold trim. The Commanders were taking the veteran wide receiver with the 71st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Peters told the Clemson standout. 

After battles through injuries, months of pre-draft training, and waiting through the first two-and-a-half rounds worth of selections, the Irmo, S.C., native was about to officially become an NFL player.

“You won’t regret it,” Williams, surrounded by former teammates, coaches, and family members, said to Peters over the phone. 

“No, we won’t,” Peters said on the other end. “So happy we had you out on the (top) thirty visit, man. Love your tape, love your competitiveness, you’re gonna make us better. Congratulations man, you’re a Commander.”

After another similar exchange with Washington’s head coach Dan Quinn, Williams hung up the phone, gave a small smile, and looked up.

“We’re going to the Commanders!,” he screamed, as a room full of people erupted into cheers and hugs.

While Williams was celebrating with a group that included eight Clemson wide receivers along with wideouts coach Tyler Grisham, Peters continued giving praise. In a press conference soon after the Commanders’ pick was in, Peters told media members what stood out about the Tigers’ two-time receptions leader.

“Really a top-notch young man,” the second-year executive said of Williams. “Super hard worker, consistent, the same guy every day. High, high FBI, can multi-align, understands the game, understands zone, understands man, understands how to win. He’s super competitive and super tough.”

A few hours earlier, minutes after Williams’ call with Peters, Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney was midway through an interview with NFL on ESPN when his phone buzzed with the news– a fifth Clemson player was being taken in the first three rounds of the 2026 Draft, a program record.

With the selection, Clemson set a program record for the most Tigers ever taken in the first three rounds, and Williams became the first Clemson wide receiver drafted since Amari Rogers and Cornell Powell in 2021.

“I’ve been getting cut off on my screen doing this because I’ve had like thirty text messages popping up on my phone,” Swinney said with a laugh over a virtual interview. “I can’t wait until we get off here so I can call him.”

Swinney, who recruited Williams, secured his commitment to the Tigers in 2021, and called him a pro-level talent several times throughout his four-year career, was visibly excited to see the Commanders share his faith in the wideout.

“Antonio is different,” he said. “But he’s as good as we’ve had here. This is a complete football player. He’s a gym rat, he can play all three positions– Z, X, he can play into the slot– high, high football IQ. 

“I think he’s going to have a great, great career,” the veteran head coach added. “To get him early in the third round is an absolute steal for them and I’m excited for him. Looking forward to many great years with Antonio Williams.”

In three full seasons at Clemson, and some of a fourth limited by injury, Williams finished with 2,336 receiving yards, and tied for fourth in program history with 21 career receiving touchdowns. He also threw two touchdowns and returned 39 punts for 359 yards.

“They’re going to be able to sleep well at night knowing Antonio is a difference maker in the community and he’s an absolute baller that plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” Grisham said of the two-time All-ACC selection. “They are getting a guy that loves football and loves to compete. He is going to make plays all over the field from multiple positions.”

Whether it was making a contested catch, facing a bigger defensive back, or punishing defenses with his route-running fluidity, Williams turned himself into the primary option for Swinney’s offense with his quickness and confidence. Now, he believes he will bring that same spark to Washington.

“I would say I’m just a smooth operator out there on the field, whether that’s running a route, making somebody miss, making a acrobatic catch,” he told Commanders media members Friday night. “I just play real smooth out there and just have a lot of confidence in myself and what I can do.”

That confidence will be paramount next season, as Williams will have a chance to bolster a Washington offense that is run by quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

In Williams’ words during the call from Peters, heading to the Commanders could be a “perfect fit,” for Clemson’s beloved wide receiver.