Antonio Williams gave Death Valley one last show, then gave NFL scouts the answer they’ve been waiting on.
After Clemson’s 45–10 win over Furman on Senior Day, the Tigers’ star receiver confirmed he will not use his extra year of eligibility and will instead enter the NFL Draft this offseason.
“It was the last time,” Williams said. “It was just kind of surreal, man… it didn’t really set in until I got to the sideline and just looked around, definitely a memorable experience.”
He leaves Memorial Stadium with a clean, almost storybook final stat line: two catches, 57 yards, two touchdowns.
Redshirt Setback, Big-Time Response
Williams’ decision comes after a college career that mixed early flashes, a frustrating detour and a major bounce-back.
The Irmo, S.C., native earned an extra year of eligibility when injuries derailed most of his sophomore season. He played in only four games before a mid-year redshirt kicked in, pausing his rise and forcing him into rehab instead of the spotlight.
He responded exactly the way Clemson hoped. In the 2024–25 season, Williams came back as Cade Klubnik’s go-to target and turned in a First Team All-ACC year: 904 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, reminding everyone why he’d been tagged as a future pro from the start.
Once that version of Williams reappeared, the question stopped being if he’d leave early and became when he’d make it official.
A Bond With Klubnik That Goes Beyond Stats
Williams didn’t just grow into a No. 1 receiver. He grew alongside his quarterback.
After choosing to return to an offense led by senior QB Cade Klubnik, Williams said their relationship became one of the pillars of his time at Clemson.
“I don’t think I would have expected how close me and Cade would have gotten my freshman year,” Williams said. “But just to really go through everything we have together and just, you know, off the field talks, just talking about life and just ball, and just he’s always there for me. I’m always there for him, and that relationship is going to last a lifetime.”
It’s the kind of QB–WR bond that shows up on Saturdays but started long before the snap.
Swinney: ‘Somebody’s Gonna Get a Great One’
Dabo Swinney didn’t bother with hedging when asked if Williams is ready for the NFL.
“He’s ready,” Swinney said after the game. “Somebody’s gonna get a great one. He’s as good as we ever had.”
For a program that’s produced a long list of pros at the position, that last line lands loud. It’s also a hint at how Clemson’s staff has viewed Williams behind the scenes: a guy who checked every box on the field, in the locker room and in how he fought back from injury.
Williams becomes the first Tiger on this roster to publicly declare for the draft, but he likely won’t be the last. Defensive stars Peter Woods, T.J. Parker and Avieon Terrell all carry NFL buzz while still holding future eligibility.
One Rivalry, One Bowl(?) Left in Orange and White
Even with his future decided, Williams isn’t done in a Clemson uniform just yet.
He’ll have at least one more game when the Tigers travel to Williams-Brice Stadium next Saturday for the annual Palmetto Bowl against South Carolina. Beyond that, Clemson is bowl-eligible, and the next question will be whether Williams chooses to play in one final postseason game before shifting fully into draft prep.
For now, what’s certain is this: his last run down the hill is in the books, his last game at Death Valley ended in the end zone twice, and his next step is toward the NFL — with his head coach saying he’s “as good as we ever had.”