Antonio Williams: Historic Freshman Season Incoming?
by: Grayson Mann
Clemson Football is humming, winning six straight to begin the season, with the offensive side of the ball looking like a night and a day difference when you pull up the tape from last year.
Where do you go to look at the change? Is it DJ’s change? Is it play calling? Wherever you go with your answer, Antonio Williams has to be a part of the equation.
Williams is on pace to be in some elite company and is only six games into his career. Williams would need over thirty catches and four hundred yards to reach a freshman season only accomplished by some high-profile players. In the Dabo Swinney era, players to get over thirty catches and over four hundred yards in their freshman season are Deandre Hopkins, Hunter Renfrow, and Sammy Watkins. Other notable players include Artavis Scott, Deon Cain, Justyn Ross, and Beaux Collins. Antonio is on pace to insert himself in a very exclusive list and immerse his career into the storied lore that is what many call “WRU.”
Numbers alone on a stat sheet are awe-inspiring, but those only tell half the story.
From the start of the Georgia Tech game that began the season, Antonio has significantly impacted third down, being the go-to guy that Uiagalelei has looked for to move the chains. Each week you can count on Williams to make plays and do things the right way. You can go back to the summer to hear offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter tell us what we know now that Antonio has “an extremely high football IQ.” It shows on the field with his route running, plucking his way through zone coverages, and finding soft spots that the defense gives up. Williams’s play has matured on par with Clemson’s offense, and it has been a treat to watch.
Antonio looks to continue to be automatic as the Tigers travel to Tallahassee to take on the Florida State Seminoles and move to 7-0 on the year.
