Antonio Williams believes Clemson’s wide receivers ‘are supposed to make it easy on Cade’

Antonio Williams stood out in an otherwise disappointing game for Clemson, as the No. 14 Tigers were soundly defeated by top-ranked Georgia, 34-3, in the AFLAC Kickoff Game in Atlanta. Williams hauled in six catches for 76 yards, marking one of his most productive outings, but his efforts weren’t enough to spark a struggling offense.

After the game, Williams reflected on the team’s performance, acknowledging the strength of Georgia’s defense but also pointing to the numerous mistakes Clemson made. “They are good, they definitely have my respect,” Williams said. “That first half, we had the opportunities… but we kept shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties. Mental mistakes and not doing the things we have been doing all camp.”

Williams was candid about the wide receivers’ struggles, emphasizing that their performance needs to improve if the team is to succeed. “As receivers today, we did not do what we were supposed to do,” he admitted. Williams believes the team’s fortunes hinge on the wideouts stepping up, particularly to support quarterback Cade Klubnik, who managed just 142 passing yards.

“We are supposed to make it easy on Cade,” Williams added, stressing the importance of avoiding the “easy routine things” that led to their downfall.

If Clemson hopes to turn their season around, the receivers will need to elevate their game, starting with eliminating mental errors and helping Klubnik find his rhythm.