Clemson football may have found its next superstar at wide receiver.
We knew coming into the 2020 season that Clemson football wide receiver Amari Rodgers was going to have stepped up and lead a very young group with a new position coach. Rodgers has been absolutely remarkable.
As we wrote about Friday night, Amari is one of just three players in major college football that had at least 25 catches and averaged 17 or more yards per catch. He added another eight catches for 91 yards Saturday against Syracuse.
However, what we have not had is a viable second option take a step forward on a consistent basis. Senior Cornell Powell has had his moments through six games but nothing consistent, the same goes for sophomore Frank Ladson Jr.
Ladson has had a few moments where you think he finally turning the corner and then he will drop a wide-open touchdown. His 2019 signee class partner, Joseph Ngata has been hurt for most of the year, which has taken him out of the running as well.
There is one wide receiver that has started to emerge more and more every week and that is freshman E.J. Williams.
No, E.J. Williams has not put up eye-popping numbers and most fans may have missed all of his eight catches this season. However, he is seeing more and more playing time and Trevor Lawrence is starting to look more and more in his direction.
There is no doubt that Williams will be a favorite target quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in the future.
My first memory of Williams came in the first home game this season against in warmups against Citadel. He was running routes along the Clemson sideline and Uiagalelei threw a pass high and behind Williams who then went up with one hand and made a grab much like “the catch” from Odell Beckham Jr. a few years ago.
Clemson football head coach has stated in several interviews that Williams was a faster version of former high school teammate Justyn Ross. Much like Ross, Williams hasn’t been part of the game plan early in his career.
With as many as eight games remaining in the 2020 season for Clemson football, Williams is going to hear his name called more and more as he continues to prove himself in practice. The game doesn’t seem to be too big for him and that will only help as he continues to develop.