Quarterback Cade Klubnik ran for his life in Saturday night’s loss against LSU as he scanned the field, but someone important was missing downfield when he needed help.
His partner-in-crime, Antonio Williams, watched from the sidelines as his team went down, leaving the game early with a hamstring injury.
The Irmo, South Carolina, native quickly became one of Klubnik’s favorite targets and safety valves when he took the reins of the offense late in 2022. After an injury took the star receiver off the field in 2023, the duo hit their stride last season with Williams catching 11 of Klubnik’s 36 touchdowns while also leading the team in receiving yards.
In one of the best receiving rooms in the country, Williams remained the veteran leader heading into the 2025 season before being sidelined in the season opener, but the senior quarterback struggled without his reliable target, particularly when he found himself outside the pocket.
The duo isn’t alone in a long string of Clemson quarterback-wide receiver combinations, each of which usually causes announcers to sound redundant.
The most obvious duo comes from a record-breaking season: Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd. The former NFL veteran receiver still holds the Tigers’ records for catches and yards in a single season, racking up 101 catches for 1464 yards. Boyd joins the receiver in the record books with the most career passing yards.
No one could expect Williams and Klubnik to surpass those numbers, but there is a way the duo can join them in immortality in an even more important way: winning a national championship.
In the Tigers’ past two national championships, the quarterbacks and receivers played a large role.
In 2016, Deshaun Watson and Mike Williams led the cavalry for the Tigers. Watson still holds the school record for single-season passing yards and touchdowns with 4593 yards while adding 41 touchdowns. Williams led the receiving room with 1361 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The undefeated national champions had a trio leading their passing game in 2018. Trevor Lawrence, Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins led one of the best offenses college football has ever seen. The receivers combined for 1936 yards on 105 total receptions. As a true freshman, Lawrence led the squad, slinging for 3280 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Williams and Klubnik hope for a chance to join these groups of offensive playmakers at Clemson and hang up another banner for their school. While they failed to connect in their short time together on the field against LSU, the two’s connection will prove to be vital for Clemson’s potential 2025 success.
If the past is any indication of the future, the duo holds eerily similar traits to national championship winners in the past. With Williams back on the field, Klubnik will look for number zero downfield whenever he finds himself in trouble.
