Clemson WR enjoys berth he promised mates

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In the heartbroken Clemson locker room, Mike Williams did his best to lift his teammates’ spirit.

The standout wide receiver wasn’t able to play in the narrow loss to Alabama in last season’s national championship game — a fractured bone in his neck cost him virtually the entire year — but he made a point of telling each returning player this wouldn’t be their last chance at winning it all.

“We’ll be back next year,” Williams told them.

It was the reason he opted to return to school despite being NFL draft eligible.

Nearly a year later, healthy and available, here he is, preparing to compete in the College Football Playoff Saturday night when No. 2 Clemson meets No. 3 Ohio State at University of Phoenix Stadium, the same stadium as last year’s championship game.

“That was one of the things I talked to my teammates and coaches about, wanting to be able to play in this playoff game,” Williams said. “I wanted to be one of those players to come back and get that experience.”

After suffering the neck injury in the first game a year ago — he crashed against the goalpost on a touchdown catch against Wofford — Williams spent the rest of the season rehabbing his neck, knowing an in-season return was unlikely. His first day back with the team, co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott gave him a whistle, but Williams passed on the coaches khakis attire.

“I always was coaching the guys up, telling them what I see on the field, what I felt like they should be doing, what coverage I’m seeing,” Williams said.

He prefers helping this way better, as a game- breaking wide receiver. Williams did whatever he could to stay active. He began doing neck exercises and light jogging ahead of schedule. After practice, while wearing a neck brace, Williams would catch 100 balls on the jugs machine. Shortly after the season, he would call quarterback Deshaun Watson to get an early jump on spring practice. Williams insisted when he was cleared, there was no fear of the neck. He put it out of his mind.

“I was acting like I was never hurt,” he said.

Williams returned a better player, more polished and precise, posting careerhighs in receptions (84), yards (1,171) and touchdowns (10). He reached the 100-yard plateau in five of Clemson’s 13 games, and averaged 13.9 yards per catch.

“It was a special year, a year I [was] looking forward to,” he said.

Early in his career, Williams tried to use his speed to run past or around cornerbacks. But after adding 15 pounds in the offseason, he became more of a threat on jump balls, using his size at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds to box out smaller defenders.

“That’s probably the biggest area Mike has improved that has elevated his game,” Scott said.

Williams likely will become the third Clemson wide receiver drafted in the first round over the last five years, joining Sammy Watkins (2014) and DeAndre Hopkins (2013). But right now, the NFL is the furthest thing from his mind.

Being able to play in Saturday night’s showdown, after all, was one the reason Williams returned to school.

“I am just soaking it all in right now,” Williams said. “Just being out there watching my teammates last year, I wanted to be a part of that. To be a part of it this year it’s a very special moment.”