Clemson football legend reportedly retiring from NFL
Former Tigers wide receiver Mike Williams is hanging up his cleats after an NFL career spent primarily with the Los Angeles Chargers. ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the news, which the Chargers seemed to confirm shortly afterwards in a message of thanks posted to the team's official social media accounts.
Williams helped Clemson to its first national championship in 25 years in January 2017 with a monstrous performance against Alabama in that year's title game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Williams had eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' 35-31 victory over Nick Saban's Crimson Tide. His fourth quarter included a four-yard touchdown catch from Deshaun Watson with 14 minutes to play that pulled Clemson to within three at 24-21, and a 26-yard catch with 5:19 left as the Tigers drove for the go-ahead score.
On the game-winning drive of a frantic fourth quarter, Williams' one-handed 24-yard catch over Anthony Averett moved Clemson into Alabama territory, and he drew a critical pass interference call on Averett that set the Tigers up with first-and-goal at the 2-yard line with 6 seconds left.
Watson then hit Hunter Renfrow for the game-winner ('Orange Crush') with 1 second left on the clock.
Over his eight seasons in the NFL, Williams caught 330 passes for 5,104 receiving yards (15.5 AVG) and 32 touchdowns, most of them with the Chargers. He spent last season between the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, finishing with 21 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown.
Williams ranks fourth in all-time receiving yards in Clemson history with 2,727 yards behind Sammy Watkins' 3,391, Deandre Hopkins' 3,020, and Aaron Kelly (2,733). He also ranks second in school history in receiving touchdowns (21) and seventh in total receptions (177).
Williams was the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson football legend, national champion retiring from NFL
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