Just Will-ing it
TAMPA, Fla. — Last season, Mike Williams left the field on a stretcher. This year, he left as a national champion.
Watching last year’s national title game against Alabama, Williams couldn’t help but think he would have made a difference. If it wasn’t for the small fracture in his neck, Clemson would have broken its championship drought.
In Monday’s rematch against the undefeated, defending champion Crimson Tide, Williams showed the difference he can make and proved why he will likely be a first-round NFL pick — and the first player selected at his position in a few months — hauling in eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers’ 35-31 upset of Alabama.
With Clemson trailing by 10 at the start of the fourth quarter, Williams helped Clemson mount the unlikely comeback, catching a 4yard touchdown from Deshaun Watson.
Williams then set up Wayne Gallman’s go-ahead touchdown later in the quarter with a leaping 26-yard catch, adding another jumping catch of 28 yards. Williams also drew a pass interference call that set up the gamewinning touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow with one second left.
“Not being able to play last year was tough,” Williams said before Monday’s game. “But just being out there again with another opportunity, you can’t do nothing but smile.”
The smile was even better after Williams produced a scene among the scariest in sports in last season.
In Clemson’s 2015 seasonopener against Wofford, the game’s first drive confirmed to the home crowd the optimism surrounding the Tigers was warranted, as Williams made a jumping catch for the first touchdown of the year.
On the grab, Williams was pushed from behind and went head first into the goalpost. Minutes later, he’d be strapped to a board and carted off the field, keeping tens of thousands of fans silent until he raised his right arm to point to the crowd.
“Usually when you see that, the injury is very serious,” Williams said. “People are paralyzed.”
Williams would learn later in the day that the small fracture in his neck wouldn’t need surgery, but he wouldn’t be able to play the entire season, putting his national title hopes and NFL plans on hold.
“He would have been a firstrounder last year,” coach Dabo Swinney said. “He had to sit and watch and I think he’s a lot better player than he would have been this time last year. ... He’s the most complete [receiver] that we’ve had. He’s a load and is going to be a great, great pro.”
Returning this season, Williams quickly became Deshaun Watson’s favorite target, ranking third in school history with 90 catches and 1,267 receiving yards, along with 10 touchdowns. Williams became the third Tiger receiver to have multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons
“He’s the best receiver in the country, everyone knows that,” Watson said. “It was just a little adversity that set him back, but he came back even stronger and this year’s he’s making a huge impact.”
As big as he imagined.