Florida State landed a massive piece to its 2023 recruiting puzzle Friday, when elite Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Stranahan receiver Hykeem Williams -- a top 30 overall prospect in the Top247 and a 247Sports Composite five-star -- announced his commitment to the Seminoles live on the 247Sports YouTube channel. One of the top five wideouts in the country's senior class, Williams propels FSU into the top 15 nationally on the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings.
Standing 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Williams' physical prowess combines with exceptional functional athleticism to consistently create matchup nightmares for opposing defenders, who are largely too small or not athletic enough -- or both -- to keep up. Williams owns a strong multi-sport profile that includes basketball, and the athleticism he shows on the hardwood translates to the gridiron, especially as a ball-winning playmaker.
Williams' success in "go get it" opportunities reflects his basketball-fueled athleticism. Williams averaged 12.2 points and 10.2 rebounds during his junior basketball season, which followed his strong Fall 2021 junior football campaign. He finished that season with 40 catches for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 18.8 yards per reception.
The combination of Williams' physical traits, athletic profile, and on-field context give him a particularly high developmental ceiling. Here's more on FSU's new 2023 weapon from Chris Singletary and Andrew Ivins, 247Sports national experts.
Chris Singletary, 247Sports national analyst: "Williams has excellent athleticism and ability on the football field. As he develops within the position he will tap deeper into the potential that he has. The size and growth potential that he brings to the position are what a lot of schools are looking. His catch radius is excellent and the physicality that he plays with after the catch stands out to me. The finished product of his skills and talent project for him to have an NFL future."
A freaky athlete. Grew up playing basketball and actually swam a little bit in high school before finding the game of football. Believed to be hovering right around 6-foot-3, 205 pounds at the start of his senior season. Owns a thick, muscular build and looks almost like a tight end or even a linebacker in street clothes.
Explosive -- and more importantly -- coordinated in almost everything he does, which likely stems from his hoops background. Hasn’t had the best of quarterback situations over the years, but has still found ways to take over games as he’s uber-competitive after the catch and can take a quick screen or swing pass and turn it into a monster gain.
Understands how to win at the line of scrimmage with little jabs of his feet before getting vertical. Uses plenty of tempo as a route runner and does a nice job of shaking defensive backs by sinking his hips and exploding in and out of his breaks. Tracks the ball well once it’s airborne and tends to always put himself in position to make a play at the catchpoint, which isn’t surprising seeing as how he’s a double-double machine on the hardwood.
Top-end speed has raised some questions inside the scouting community without much verified data available, but does own one of the fastest verified max speed marks in the class of 2023 according to one advanced metric. Has improved significantly as a blocker since he was a skinny freshman and shouldn’t have many issues holding his own out on the perimeter on Saturdays.
Will need to master his craft and take to coaching once he arrives at the college of his choice, but has what it takes to emerge as an impact player at the Power Five level with his agility and frame. Likely to settle in as a big outside receiver in a pro-style attack, but could patrol the slot one day and maybe even be utilized as an h-back or "F" tight end of sorts depending on how his body fills out over the next few years. Day 1 or Day 2 of the NFL Draft potential. -- Andrew Ivins, 247Sports national analyst (Southeast)
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