Hykeem Williams reveals biggest difference between Colorado, Florida State: 'More development'

Former Florida State wide receiver Hykeem Williams is really enjoying his time on the football field at Colorado so far. He noted there’s more investment in the development of players in Boulder, compared to his previous stop.

Williams spent two years at Florida State before transferring this spring. He started eight games last season for a modest stat line of 16 catches for 187 yards and one touchdown.

Now with the Buffaloes in Year 3 under Deion Sanders, it’s a totally different culture. Williams noticed it right away.

“More development,” Williams said, via DNVR. More, more, more development. Coming here, you’re just around so (many) guys that have been there. There were guys that have been there at Florida State but here it’s just on another level. You got three Gold Jackets, you got NFL guys that come in, Hall of Famers that come in still that support us and help us be great and succeed.”

In total, Williams has 21 catches, 267 yards and two touchdowns in his college career. He could be a key piece to a new-look Colorado offense this season.

As a member of the Class of 2023, Williams was a four-star recruit out of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Stranahan, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He was the No. 9 overall prospect in the state, the No. 4 wide receiver in the class and the No. 34 overall prospect in the class.

Hall of Famers on the staff? Williams isn’t lying. In addition to Sanders as his head coach, guys like Warren Sapp and Marshall Faulk are coaching their respective positions for Colorado.

As far as who’s throwing to Williams this season, that’s to-be-determined. Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and freshman Julian Lewis are competing for QB1 ahead of the regular season. But, Sanders predicted a guy like Salter will “cause havoc” for opposing defenses.

“Kaidon is a guy with multiple talents,” Sanders said. “He can throw the football. He can run the heck out of the football. Sometimes in practice, you don’t get a chance to see how good he is because when you run the quarterback, you know we can’t hit him.

“But, you can see the burst, the speed, the knowledge of reading the defenses, and then he pulls it and keeps it. The kid is going to cause havoc. I’m just telling you.”