USC-Clemson rivalry spilling over into recruiting arena with Dutch Fork receiving star
The South Carolina and Clemson football rivalry will add another chapter this weekend on the field at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Off the field, the two Palmetto State schools are in another battle for one of the state’s top receiving prospects — Dutch Fork’s Antonio Williams. The Gamecocks have been after the senior for some time now after offering him a scholarship a little over a year ago.
Clemson has been showing interest for several months and finally pulled the trigger on an offer this past weekend when the 6-foot, 180-pound Williams took an unofficial visit to Clemson and attended the Tigers’ game against Wake Forest. After the visit, he posted on his Twitter page about the offer and received quite a response from both fan bases.
“They were all in my comments on the Clemson offer and they were arguing,” Williams told The State after Monday’s practice. ”It is such a great rivalry and it should be a great game this weekend.”
Williams talked with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and other coaches before Saturday’s game. Following Clemson’s 48-27 victory over the Demon Deacons, he went into the Tigers’ locker room, listened to Swinney’s postgame speech and talked with several Clemson players, including former teammate Will Taylor.
Taylor was Dutch Fork’s quarterback last season and signed to play football and baseball with Clemson. He tore his ACL against Boston College and is out for the season.
“He is trying to get me there, for sure,” Williams said of Taylor. “When I talked to coach Swinney, he told me I had an opportunity to play at Clemson. It gives me another option and makes my decision harder than it already is.”
Williams grew up in the Upstate, and his family moved to Columbia before his freshman season at Dutch Fork High in Irmo.
Clemson already has one top in-state receiving prospect in Myrtle Beach’s Adam Randall for the Class of 2022. The Gamecocks have two receiving commits in Clarendon Hall’s Kyliq Horton and Landon Samson of Southlake Carroll (Texas), who has been selected to play in the All-American Bowl.
Clemson is now on Williams’ list of top schools along with Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss and South Carolina. He has taken official visits to South Carolina and Ole Miss and will head to Auburn this weekend for the Iron Bowl against Alabama.
Williams said he was impressed with South Carolina’s 21-17 win over Auburn on Saturday. The win makes the Gamecocks bowl-eligible in Shane Beamer’s first season.
“Big-time win against one of my other schools I am considering,” Williams said of USC. ”They (USC) still text me, and call, still trying to get me there.
“I’m just trying to focus on football, winning another state championship and then make a decision. ... I am still enjoying the process. I’m ready to make a decision.”
Williams said any decision will likely come after the conclusion of Dutch Fork’s season, which he hopes is a few weeks away. The Silver Foxes travel to Fort Dorchester on Friday in the Class 5A Lower State championship. If Dutch Fork wins, they’ll play in the state championship game at Benedict College at 5 p.m. on Dec. 4.
The Silver Foxes, who have a 61-game unbeaten streak, are going for their sixth straight Class 5A championship.
After the championship game, Williams will play in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl in Myrtle Beach on Dec. 11. Practice for the game starts on Dec. 6. The football early signing period is Dec. 15-17. Williams will not enroll early wherever he signs and has said he plans to play basketball for Dutch Fork this winter.
Williams caught five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over Sumter. For the season, he leads the team with 64 catches for 1,285 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Williams also has four special teams touchdowns and holds six single-season or career records for punt returns at Dutch Fork, including yards and touchdowns.
