Last weekend saw the No. 10 Clemson Tigers earn a historic road win over the Florida State Seminoles thanks to their stout defense and electric offense.
Now, with three conference rivals turned into notches on their belt, the Tigers sit atop the ACC standings as the team to beat.
A crucial strategic aspect of this year’s offensive resurgence has been the reintroduction of the air raid scheme, which makes playmakers like redshirt sophomore Antonio Williams all the more important.
Williams was the standout receiver against the Seminoles, hauling in three receptions for 84 yards and one 57-yard touchdown.
His improvement at Clemson has been significant, and head coach Dabo Swinney is not hesitant to call it as he sees it.
“He’s a skilled kid. He had some outstanding success early as a freshman. It’s just that there’s more. There’s so much more there than what he did as a freshman.
“I think he had some growing up to do, really, learning how to be a complete player at the position, how to play hard all the time, how to really become a craftsman,” Swinney said at his weekly presser.
Williams was a diamond in the rough in his first season. While the player showed promise, it was clear he could still deliver more, which he has been showing these past few seasons.
“This kid has put the work in, man. He plays fast. He has really, really grown with his fundamentals and his technique and just his savvy, his knowledge, his understanding of the game, his understanding of route running, how to influence guys, his breakpoint technique, understanding defense, how to manipulate that, his release technique.
“He’s got natural ball skills. He’s very confident,” Swinney continued.
In addition to his presence on the field, Williams has emerged as a figurehead in the locker room.
“What I’m most proud of is the type of leader he is. This kid has really become a great leader in that room and a guy that everybody respects and looks to.”
It is key for the Tigers to have a true leader in the receiving core, considering the unit’s youth. With rising stars such as T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr., it’s valuable for those players to have a role model within their position group.
Clemson now looks ahead to another away conference matchup against Wake Forest (2-3, 1-1 ACC) at noon this Saturday.
“We’re just 4-1. We have a long way to go, we have to stay locked in,” Swinney said of his squad’s mindset heading into this weekend’s matchup.
Clemson is currently ranked as a top 10 team in the country for the first time since the opening week of the 2023-2024 season. They look to continue their success as they strive for the inaugural 12-team playoff.
