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Saturday night’s Top 10 showdown between No. 4 Clemson and No. 9 LSU was billed as a clash of elite quarterbacks and loaded wide receiver rooms. But for Clemson, the spotlight quickly shifted from the field to the sideline when senior wideout Antonio Williams, the Tigers’ versatile offensive weapon, left the game with a hamstring injury in the first quarter of their 17-10 loss.
Williams, who led Clemson in receptions (75), yards (904), and touchdowns (1) in 2024, went down on the Tigers’ second offensive series and did not return. The absence of Klubnik’s most reliable target cast a shadow over the passing game for the rest of the night.
"Anytime you have soft tissue injuries, especially with skill players, there’s always concern," head coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday as he discussed Williams' injury. "I don’t think it’s severe, but he’ll do what he needs to do to get himself back."
Before his exit, Williams was targeted twice. In his absence, Clemson’s young receiving corps shouldered the load. Sophomore Bryant Wesco led with 66 yards, while sophomore T.J. Moore (55) and redshirt sophomore Tyler Brown (43) chipped in. All three finished with four receptions apiece.
"He’s one of our greatest players, so losing him isn’t something you ever want to deal with," Wesco said. "I think we handled it pretty well. No one panicked. Leaders stepped up. People made plays."
Williams is questionable to play in Saturday’s home game against Troy and could be sidelined the following week at Georgia Tech. Dabo Swinney noted during his Wednesday press conference that Williams practiced “just a little” this week. That likely leaves Wesco, Moore, and Brown, along with redshirt sophomore Cole Turner and transfer Tristan Smith, as the focal point of the attack.
Brown, a 2023 Freshman All-American who missed most of last season with injury, is being counted on heavily.
"I thought Tyler really played well," Swinney said. "Should’ve had two touchdowns. He made some plays for us, and good to see him play with a little confidence."
The Tigers’ depth at receiver has been a talking point since camp. Turner even dubbed the unit “two waves of terror,” while Swinney insists he has “six starters” at his disposal. But against LSU, Smith never saw the field, and Turner was targeted only once on Klubnik’s interception.
"We only had 50-something plays. We never got into rhythm," Swinney explained. "Sometimes you have a rotation, but when you go three-and-out, that changes everything. [Smith] is going to play a ton. All those guys will have opportunities."
Williams’ absence also left Clemson without its primary punt returner. Wesco stepped into the role and delivered a 16-yard return late in the fourth quarter to spark a potential game-tying drive.
"I felt like I was pretty prepared going into that moment. I wouldn't say I was ready to go into that moment at the time, but I knew that I just had to go in there [and] breathe," Wesco said of his first career punt return. "First punt return in front of 80,000. It's not the easiest thing in the world. But I had to go out there, breathe, tell myself that I'm built for this moment. And just went out there to put us in a position to try to help us win the game."
Clemson ultimately fell short, but the takeaway was clear: until Williams returns, the Tigers’ offense will lean on the remaining members of the "two waves of terror."
"Me, TJ, Tristan, Cole, we’re all going to get more opportunities," Wesco said. "We just have to capitalize on those."
