Antonio Williams WR Clemson |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #0 ROLE: Slot Receiver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/04/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.41 seconds (81%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.1 DOB: 07/14/2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #0 | |
| ROLE: Slot Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 03/04/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.41 seconds (81%*) | |
| Age: 22.1 DOB: 07/14/2004 | |
| Overall Rating: | 84.9 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 125.4 | |
| Hands: |
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76% |
| Short Receiving: |
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79% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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82% |
| Deep Threat: |
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86% |
| Blocking: |
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62% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Late
Overall Rank:
#61
Position rank:
#11 (WR)
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| College Games: 42 College Snaps: 1944 | ||
ESPN RATING: 84/100
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247 RATING: 96/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Williams - Washington State |
|
97% |
| Jalen Royals - Utah State |
|
95% |
| Ladd McConkey - Georgia |
|
87% |
Drafted: ROUND: 3 - Pick Number: 71 (WSH)
Draft Profile: Bio
Antonio Williams came out of Dutch Fork High School in Columbia, South Carolina, where he was part of three state championship squads and lost just once across his entire prep career. A consensus four-star recruit ranked inside the top 85 nationally, Williams committed to Clemson in December 2021 and made an immediate splash as a true freshman in 2022, leading the Tigers with 56 catches for 604 yards and four touchdowns while earning Freshman All-America recognition.His sophomore year in 2023 was largely wiped out by a series of nagging injuries that held him to four regular-season games and a medical redshirt, though he returned for the Gator Bowl and delivered a clutch 16-yard catch on third-and-18 during Clemson's game-winning drive against Kentucky. Healthy again in 2024, Williams broke out with 75 catches, 904 yards, and 11 touchdowns while adding a rushing score, a passing touchdown, and a 9.65-yard punt return average.
Williams played 10 games in 2025 before declaring for the draft, finishing with 55 catches for 604 yards and four scores. He left Clemson ranked fourth all-time in receptions (208) and tied fourth in touchdown catches (21), passing DeAndre Hopkins on the career receptions list in his final regular-season game.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Savvy route technician who uses tempo shifts and subtle body fakes to consistently win off the line.
- Tracks the deep ball well and adjusts his frame to make difficult grabs along the sideline.
- Absolutely zero hesitation working the middle of the field through heavy traffic.
- Natural feel for sitting in zone windows, giving his quarterback an easy landmark underneath.
- Explosive vertical jump translates to contested catch ability that belies his smaller frame.
- Reliable hands away from his body with strong concentration through contact at the catch point.
- Shifty and competitive after the catch, turns short throws into real yardage with vision and wiggle.
- Legitimate return game experience adds plug-and-play special teams value on day one.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Light frame with short arms will struggle against physical press coverage at the next level.
- Below-average play strength shows up as a liability when asked to block in the run game.
- Lost significant time to injuries in two of his four college seasons, raising durability flags.
- Good speed but lacks a true second gear to stack cornerbacks vertically on nine routes.
- Change of direction numbers suggest average short-area lateral agility in tight spaces.
- Occasional freelancing on his routes creates timing disruptions with the quarterback.
Scouting Report: Summary
Williams is a slot receiver. That is his position in the NFL and there is no reason to overthink it. He wins from the inside with craft, quickness, and an understanding of leverage that most rookies do not possess. Put him in a timing-based passing scheme that values route precision over raw athleticism and he will produce right away. Spread formations, RPO concepts, and quick-game packages that let him work against linebackers and nickel corners in space are where he thrives. His punt return ability and willingness to take designed touches as a runner or passer out of gadget looks give a coaching staff extra ways to get the ball in his hands.The concern with Williams is straightforward: can his body hold up? He is built lean and relies on elusiveness rather than physicality, which works until you are absorbing hits from NFL safeties week after week. Two seasons with missed time is not catastrophic, but it is a pattern front offices will weigh. When he is right, though, the 2024 tape tells you everything. Seventy-five catches and 11 touchdowns from a slot receiver at Clemson is not a fluke. That is a player who knows how to get open, win at the catch point, and create after the ball arrives. He will not be anyone's top outside weapon, but as a high-floor number-two or premium slot option who chips in on returns, the production should translate cleanly.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
Antonio Williams percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Antonio Williams (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
68.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
13.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.