Clemson receiver Antonio Williams out for Florida State game
Clemson will be without arguably its top receiver for Saturday’s game against Florida State. Antonio Williams will miss the matchup, Clemson announced Saturday morning.
Williams leads the Tigers with 15 catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore also led Clemson in receiving last season with 56 catches for 604 yards.
With Williams out, the Tigers will need freshman Tyler Brown to step up. The former Greenville High star is fourth on the team with seven catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Clemson will likely start sophomore Adam Randall, junior Beaux Collins and Brown at receiver.
In order for Clemson to pull off the upset, the Tigers will need quarterback Cade Klubnik to play well. The sophomore has had an up-and-down start to the season. Klubnik is completing 66 percent of his passes and has thrown for 693 yards and eight touchdowns through three games. However, he has struggled with turnovers.
In addition to Williams, Clemson will also be without receiver Cole Turner, who is out for the year. Turner suffered a season-ending injury last weekend against FAU.
Florida State down two starters for showdown with Clemson
Florida State is also banged up heading into Saturday’s game against Clemson.
The Seminoles will not have safety Akeem Dent or left tackle Robert Scott Jr. available, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Dent also missed last weekend’s game against Boston College after being injured in Week 2 against Southern Miss.
Scott is missing his third straight game. He is one of the best offensive linemen in the ACC when healthy, having started all 11 games he played in last season and earning second-team All-ACC honors.
Florida State struggled without Akeem Dent last week, allowing BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos to pass for 305 yards as the Eagles nearly pulled off the upset.
Clemson starting OL Walker Parks out Saturday vs. Florida State
In addition to Williams, Clemson will also not have starting offensive lineman Walker Parks available on Saturday against the Seminoles.
A school spokesperson confirmed the news on Friday.
“Coach has confirmed Walker will be unavailable Saturday with his lower-body injury,” Clemson Assistant AD for Football Communications Ross Taylor said.
Parks started the first two games of the season but was injured Week 2 against Charleston Southern. He did not play last week against FAU and will also miss Saturday’s game against No. 4 Florida State.
With Parks out last week, Mitchell Mayes started at right guard against FAU and played 43 snaps in Clemson’s 48-14 win.
Walker Parks started all 13 games for Clemson in 2021 and started all 13 games he appeared in last season. He was banged up during fall camp but was healthy enough to start in the opener against Duke.