Clemson WR Antonio Williams Profiles as Legit NFL Weapon

Clemson’s talent pool is stacked this season, with five players currently being projected by CBS Sports as first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Among those players is Tigers’ WR Antonio Williams.

They are projecting him to go No. 10 to the Miami Dolphins.

With this much talent on Clemson’s team, there is no doubt that NFL eyes will be on Williams every Saturday this fall.

There’s a lot to like about his game, and heading into a pivotal season, he’s firmly on my radar.

Background

Williams committed to Clemson during the winter of 2021. This prospect was a four-star recruit out of high school (247Sports).

Williams’ 2024 Stats:

• 14 games 
• 75 receptions
• 904 yards (12.1 avg.)
• 11 touchdowns

#0 Antonio Williams 5-foot-11, 190 pounds 
Rajvir Bal’s Summer 2026 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)
Projected by NFL to be a first-round pick as of July 16, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film reviewed: South Carolina, Louisville, Georgia, and NC State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Good Separation Skills

Williams is an above-average separator, especially over the middle of the field and in traffic.

This stems from his exceptional understanding of route-tempo and his ability to accelerate. Williams knows exactly when to speed up, slow down, and when to cut. His movements are masterful and carefully orchestrated to get open when he breaks on his route. His high football IQ also consistently allows him to find soft spots in the defense and get open. These skills make him a dangerous threat in all areas of the field, and give him a chance to be a very high-level player in the NFL.

Solid Hands

This prospect can be counted on to catch the ball. In 2024, Williams was targeted 101 times and had a catch rate of 74.3%. He has no problem holding onto the ball through heaps of contact. He displays natural pass-catching ability using his hands to pluck the ball out of the air away from his body.

Small Frame

A knock on Williams will be his size. It’s a warranted critique, as he’s struggled with injuries throughout his college career. He suffered a shoulder injury vs. Stanford. Additionally, in 2023, Williams rolled his ankle against Florida Atlantic.

He struggles with more physical corners off the line of scrimmage due to his smaller stature and less physical playing style.

YAC Ability

Williams has great YAC, or yards-after-the-catch ability. He’s elusive in the open field and able to maneuver around and past defenders. He’s more of a “wiggle” than a “straight-line” burner, but can easily turn 6-yard catches into 12-yard gains.

Other Cons?

• Seems to give medium effort from time to time when not directly involved with a play

• Has mediocre long speed on deep routes

Ten Adjectives

Shifty. Intelligent. Reliable. Slippery. Undersized. Fragile. Instinctive. Smooth. Crafty. Explosive.

Explaining The Grade

I’m labeling Williams as a first-round player due to his high-level abilities and traits. He currently projects as a potential future WR1 on a contending team. Williams’ upside is immense and warrants long looks from NFL teams.

2024 Game Film Summary

One more healthy, productive year, and Williams could be the first receiver off the board.

Rajvir Bal is a high school student from the Virginia area. He grew up a rabid Washington Redskins fan, attending more than 30 games, and has enjoyed the team’s high points and low points throughout his life. He plays varsity football and basketball. Rajvir has taken an interest in the NFL Draft since middle school when his team picked Montez Sweat and Dwayne Haskins in the first round. His favorite NFL player ever flips between Rob Gronkowski and Brett Favre, and his favorite athlete is LeBron James. He has been writing his own scouting reports since 2020, and is excited for the opportunities FirstRoundMock provides.