Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

One of Dabo Swinney's all-time recruiting wins at Clemson announces sudden retirement from NFL at only 30 years old

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Ian Valentino | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 11:36 PM ET

After making over $86 million over his eight-year NFL career, Mike Williams has called it quits. Just months after reuniting with the NFL franchise that drafted him seventh overall in the 2017 NFL Draft on a one-year, $3 million deal, the former Clemson Tigers star walks away as one of the most tantalizing talents we've seen since his collegiate days.

He was also one of Dabo Swinney's best recruiting wins, as Williams made the late call to pick Clemson over South Carolina. The decision paid off tremendously, as the 6-foot-4, 218-pounder accomplished as much as a receiver can in college.

Over four seasons at Clemson, Williams totaled 177 receptions, including an ACC-leading 98 catches in 2016, reached the 1,000-yard mark twice, and scored 21 times. He was a key cog on Clemson's National Championship team in 2016.

But the story of how he ended up at Clemson is a fun one.

Sources: Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams’ agent Tory Dandy informed the team last night that, after eight seasons, his client is retiring from the NFL. Williams walks away from the game at age 30. pic.twitter.com/f97JzkcYHj
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2025

Way before Williams became a two-time 1,000-yard receiver and finished his NFL tenure with 5,104 yards and 32 scores, he was deciding whether to play with Sammy Watkins and interesting incoming quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson at Clemson, or a bunch of 'nobody' talents at South Carolina. Here's his story.

"On the day I went to commit, I just picked the Clemson hat," said Williams. " I told my family 'I'm going to South Carolina.' It was like 30 minutes from the crib. I'm like 'Yeah, we're going there.' And then on commitment day, I grabbed the South Carolina hat, put it down, [and] grabbed the Clemson one."

The story of how @darealmike_dub landed at Clemson instead of South Carolina is hilarious @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/NW21gNgk3g
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) August 23, 2023

"I had got to commitment day and my high school coach had a long talk with me because he knew I was going to South Carolina and he wanted me to go to Clemson. He had a long talk with me before like we had to delay the [commitment]... He was talking about the quarterback situation. South Carolina didn't have like a really elite quarterback. Clemson got some guys coming in. Receivers, [I] had to learn from Sammy [Watkins] and them. South Carolina didn't have nobody."

Williams struggled mightily with durability after the 2022 season. After producing at least 664 yards in five of his first six seasons and at least 895 in three of four years, his body broke down. He finished 2023 and 2024 playing in only eight games and totaling 547 yards.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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