After a career year as a redshirt sophomore, Antonio Williams had a decision to make.

The standout pass catcher was Cade Klubnik’s go-to guy in 2024, leading a Clemson wide receiver room that became a strength of the Tigers’ offense. After leading the team in receiving yards (904), receptions (75) and receiving touchdowns (11) last season, no one would have questioned Williams had he decided to head off to the NFL.

“It was obviously a very tough decision,” Williams said. “A lot of thought put into it. Took me awhile to come to a decision.”

It was a decision Williams took his time deliberating. A lot of thought went into deciding whether to come back to Clemson for another season or enter the NFL Draft.

However, during the decision-making process, Williams kept coming back to one thing. How did he want his career as a Tiger to be remembered?

“A big word that was thrown around was legacy,” Williams said. “I felt like leaving early, not really ending it the way I wanted to — wouldn’t be a great finish to my career here at Clemson. Legacy was a big part of it.”

After an injury derailed his second season at Clemson, forcing him to take a redshirt, Williams responded by earning first-team All-ACC honors in 2024. He was one of just 12 players to start every game for the Tigers last season. He was also the first pass catcher to finish a season with double-digit touchdown catches since Tee Higgins did it in 2019.

With Williams deciding to return, and Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore both now having a year of experience under their belts, along with Tyler Brown now fully healthy, the Tigers should boast one of the best groups of wideouts. Add in Cade Klubnik, who is also returning for one last hoorah, and the Tigers could have one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the country.

All those things have Williams believing this year’s team is primed to make a run at a national title, something that would help ease the sting of last season’s first-round loss at Texas in the College Football Playoff. And he’s determined to do his part to ensure that happens.

“At the end of the day I felt like I had a great opportunity to come back and win a national championship,” Williams said. “Just cement myself as one of the best receivers to come through here. That’s my goal.”