Clemson's Antonio Williams Discusses Return, Leadership, and National Title Aspirations
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Antonio Williams had every reason to pack his bags for the NFL after a breakout redshirt sophomore campaign. The star wide receiver led Clemson in receptions (75), receiving yards (904), and touchdowns (11) in 2024. But instead of declaring for the draft, Williams opted for one more season in Death Valley.
“It was obviously a very tough decision,” Williams said a week ago after practice. “A lot of thought put into it. It took me a while to come to a decision. But at the end of the day, I felt like I had a great opportunity to come back, win a national championship, and just cement myself as one of the best receivers to come through here.”
Entering 2025, he has 153 receptions, 1,732 yards, and 17 touchdowns over 33 career games. If Williams can replicate last season’s production, he will be first in school history in receiving touchdowns, fourth in receptions, and fifth in receiving yards.
Clemson is expected to be among the top national championship contenders next season, returning 16 starters, including quarterback Cade Klubnik and a deep wide receiver corps. Defensively, the Tigers made a high-profile addition, bringing in former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to shore up a unit that struggled at times in 2024, ranking No. 69 in total defense and No. 89 in rushing defense. In contrast, Allen's Nittany Lions finished No. 7 in total defense and No. 9 against the run.
“Hopefully, I can put together a great season, and as a team, we can achieve all our goals and win the big thing,” Williams said.
The Tigers last won a national title in 2018 when they throttled Alabama 44-16.
Williams got his first taste of the playoffs last season when Clemson fell 38-24 to No. 3 Texas in the first round in Austin at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. Despite the loss, he embraced the postseason experience.
“I think as a team, even though we lost, it was just a great experience to be a part of and a great atmosphere,” Williams said. “A playoff game, a playoff setting—it’s just really different, especially away in a place like Texas. It kind of feels surreal, but that’s what we came here to do, win games like that. So, I think that was good for us, and we’re going to try to take the next step moving forward.”
Now one of the team’s veteran leaders, Williams is tasked with mentoring a receiving corps that could be among the nation’s best. The group includes experienced returners Cole Turner, Tyler Brown, Misun Kelley, transfer Tristan Smith, and two highly touted sophomores, Bryant Wesco, a Freshman All-American, and T.J. Moore, who caught nine passes for 116 yards with a touchdown against the Longhorns.
Williams, a former Freshman All-American, understands the challenges that come with early success, as well as the adversity that can follow.
“You gotta handle success the same way you handle failure,” said the second team All-ACC and Academic team member. “Just tune out whatever anybody’s saying and get back to work. We were talking earlier about freshman success and then not having the same success sophomore year. I really gotta push those guys like Bryant and T.J. to not fall into the same slump that I did. They haven’t shown any signs of that at all. We need them to get where we want to go and to get back that title [Wide Receiver U].”
Williams’ sophomore season was derailed by injuries, limiting him to just five games. One of his main leadership roles this season has also been to guide Tyler Brown, who missed most of last season with an injury after a stellar freshman year (52 catches, 4 TDs) in 2023.
“Obviously, coming off a great freshman season like he did, you can kind of go through the motions,” Williams said of the redshirt sophomore. “I was in the same position with the injury happening and missing most of my sophomore season when everybody expects you to be out there. So, I’ve tried to take him under my wing and just do the things I did differently from year two to year three—mainly recovery, staying in the treatment room, getting in the cold tub after every practice, and taking care of your body. He’s been there with me every day.”
With young playmakers, Brown, Wesco, and Moore, and a battle-tested Williams leading the charge, Clemson could be WRU again and help return the program to its first national championship game in six years.
"I'm going to stay on them, stay on myself and I want them to hold me to that same standard," stated Williams.