Antonio Williams is motivated, taking on new roles for 2024
Clemson receiver Antonio Williams is healthy this spring after playing in only five games (four starts) in 2023 due to various injuries.
The redshirt sophomore was last seen on the field making an impact in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl ( Dec. 29, 2023) against Kentucky with a 16-yard reception on 3rd and 18 and an 11-yard first-down reception on the Tigers' game-winning fourth-quarter drive. He finished the game with five catches for 32 yards and accumulated 22 receptions for 224 yards with two touchdowns on the season.
Williams was also credited with three punt returns for 14 yards over 132 snaps.
The former 2022 ESPN Freshman All-American and All-ACC Academic team member sat down with the media on Monday to discuss last season and what he's seen from his teammates in practices this spring.
On being healthy and back on the field following Spring Break:
“It feels great. Last year, I realized that I took being healthy for granted. This game I love it so much. So every time I step on the field, I'm gonna give 110%.”
On who has stepped up to be a leader among the receivers:
“Everybody in my class. Me, Adam [Randall], and Cole [Turner]. And then Troy [Stellato], and a couple of guys older than us. We were all trying to lead. I definitely feel like I've stepped into that role more so than I have in the previous years. Just because last year we had Beaux Collins and he was a natural leader. So, I'm trying to take some of the traits that I learned from him and lead the way he did.”
On the maturation of junior quarterback Cade Klubnik, who was 8 of 8 passing for 71 yards on the game-winning Gator Bowl scoring drive:
“I saw it last year being sidelined. Just watching him and how he leads. And then the last game, I think that was a big stepping stone for him and just overcoming adversity. That last drive. I feel like even our fans or people on the sidelines was doubting us and didn't think that we would be able to score -- get it done. But when he did that, that was just a good feeling for all of us.”
On how the defense helps the offense:
“Here at Clemson, we're always gonna have the best competition on both sides of the ball. So, if we can win our reps versus them. I feel we can win against anybody in the country. And me personally going up against Avieon [Terrell] and Shelton [Lewis] every day those guys make me better. I'm gonna be playing more on the outside and Avi – he's just a technician. I like to think of myself as the same way. So just us going against each other helps my technique improve?”
On getting reps at outside receiver, a position he expects to play more than the slot in 2024:
“I played everywhere in high school. My freshman year I got on the outside a little bit here. It's natural. I mean there are some things that I know I have to work on. Obviously, being more physical, because there's going to be bigger guys out there. So just being more physical and not letting them keep their hands on me and going up and making contested catches.”
On using last year as motivation for the upcoming season:
“I feel I was already motivated coming out of my freshman year [because of] the way it ended. But injuries are part of this game and I'm gonna do all I can in the offseason to prevent them. But it happens. You just got to push through it and keep grinding.”
