Tré Williams 'thankful' to be healthy as Clemson preps for a 'November to Remember'

For Clemson defensive tackle Tré Williams, the 2024 season marks a resurgence. A former four-star prospect from St. John’s College High in Washington, D.C., Williams has battled injuries throughout his Clemson career.

Now healthy, the 6’2, 315-pound lineman is bringing his formidable size and skill to Wes Goodwin's defensive squad, working under the guidance of position coach Nick Eason, known for his passion for the game. As the Tigers approach November with all their goals still within reach, Williams and the defensive unit are ready to make their mark.

Following the Tigers' second bye week of the season, Williams sees November as an opportunity to reset and sharpen their focus.

"Oh, it's been good," Williams said last week. "This is another opportunity to get better. We look at every week as an opportunity to get better, regardless of if we have a game or not.” Reflecting on the team’s progress during bye weeks, he added, “I feel like last bye week, we handled it very well, and we're keeping the same mindset for this bye week as well.”

With the team adopting a game-ready approach during their time off, Williams credits head coach Dabo Swinney’s consistent reminders that they’re still in the heat of competition.

“Coach Swinney told the guys after the game on Saturday that we play ‘Open’ at 12 o'clock in the Valley,” Williams said, laughing. “So that's what we're doing—just treating it the same way we treat any other week.”

Though two bye weeks might seem unusual, Williams acknowledges they have been beneficial for the team’s development. "It's kind of weird because the first one was so early in the season," he noted. "But it’s definitely helpful because we get more opportunities for us to get better as a team, to grow as a team.”

For Williams, simply being on the field this season has been an accomplishment. Injury-plagued seasons have made his 2024 campaign even more meaningful.

“It's been great. It's really a blessing,” he said. “As some of you guys know, I've worked really hard to get to this point, so I’m just blessed, honestly. I take every day one day at a time, and I’m just thankful for it, for real.”

Williams attributes much of his growth to Eason, who has been instrumental in fine-tuning his technique and building his confidence. “Tremendously,” Williams emphasized when asked how Eason has helped him this year.

“He's a great coach, and I'm coachable, so just the mix of me and him being a great coach and me being coachable has really benefited me a lot this year. I’m really appreciative of him,” Williams noted.

Under Eason’s guidance, Williams has been honing the finer points of his game, focusing on hand placement, footwork, and striking technique. "Like my hands and my footwork and just being violent at the point of attack," Williams said of his improvements this season. “Everything he thinks we will need to be very successful defensive linemen in college and also in the NFL.”

With Clemson’s defensive front ready to surge into November, Williams’ return to form couldn’t have come at a better time.

As they gear up for a challenging home stretch, Williams and the Tigers’ defense are positioned to make the plays that could define their season. With the focus, skill, and renewed health Williams brings, Clemson is hopeful that this November will be one to remember.

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