(Photo by Clemson Tigers)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Antonio Williams is now a Washington Commander.
The former Dutch Fork All-State and two-time All-ACC wide receiver was selected Friday in the third round and 71st overall at the NFL Draft.
“They’re getting a guy that’s going to come in and work and be dependable and reliable every day,” Williams said. “I think consistency is what’s going to separate me from the rest, so that’s my goal. Just put my head down and go to work every day.
“I would say I’m just a smooth operator out there on the field, whether that’s running a route, making somebody miss, making an acrobatic catch. I just play real smooth out there and just have a lot of confidence in myself and what I can do.”
Washington general manager Adam Peters said they were “really impressed” by Williams and had been scouting him for months.
“He’s a top-notch young man,” Peters said of Williams. “… He’s an NFL route runner. … We really like the versatility of him as well. He played a lot of inside (receiver) this year. He played outside last year. That’s really the thing that differentiated him.”
During Williams’ career at Clemson, he caught 208 passes for 2,336 yards and 21 touchdowns in 43 games. He finished fourth all-time in career receptions and tied with Mike Williams for fourth-most career touchdown receptions.
“Antonio is a day one performer when he walks in their building,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney offered. “Antonio has really lived like a pro, prepared like a pro, played like a pro for his last couple years. He is a highly skilled receiver. If he was 6-2, he’d be a first-round pick.”
“They’re going to be able to sleep well at night knowing Antonio is a difference maker in the community and he’s an absolute baller that plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” Clemson wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham said. “They are getting a guy that loves football and loves to compete. He is going to make plays all over the field from multiple positions.”
As a member of the Silver Foxes, Williams won two state titles. He had 137 career catches for 2,458 yards and 23 touchdowns and was selected to the Under Armour All-American game.
“We are proud of Tonio – great young man who has represented Dutch Fork well,” Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts said. “He is poised for great things in Washington.”
