FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One of South Florida’s top players is choosing to head north instead of staying close to home.
Stranahan wide receiver Hykeem Williams committed to Florida State on Friday, picking the Seminoles over Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Pittsburgh and Texas A&M. Williams announced his college choice on CBS Sports.
Williams said his close relationship with the staff, particularly wide receivers coach Ron Dugans, drew him to Tallahassee.
“The relationship I built with them is crazy,” Williams said. “Coach Dugans, I built a great relationship. He’s like a big brother, uncle, a friend, a best friend. He’s one coolest coaches I’ve met. He’s from down here, he’s been to the league, he broke records, he played at Florida State. I don’t think there was another that just could develop me as he could.”
Williams celebrated his commitment by having former FSU great Peter Warrick give him a Seminoles jersey.
Williams, who is rated a five-star prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings, has been a Miami target dating back to when Manny Diaz was still UM’s coach. He made several trips to Hurricanes games last season.
He showed respect to the Hurricanes during his commitment ceremony, picking up the hat and saying he learned a lot from Miami’s recruitment of him.
“I ain’t going to throw (the Miami hat) because they opened my eyes to a lot,” Williams said. “They started this process for me, so I can’t throw it.”
However, the Florida State staff was able to sell him on what they are building in Tallahassee.
“I just see great things Dugans and Coach [Mike] Norvell and what they’re doing with their system,” Williams told the Sun Sentinel in August.
Williams, a Super 11 selection, is listed as the No. 4 wide receiver and No. 22 player in the 2023 class. Williams, who will play in the All-American Bowl next year, had a positive opinion of the Hurricanes during the recruiting process, and he said he wanted to see more from Miami this season.
“They’re changing the culture really well [at Miami],” Williams said in August.
Miami currently has two receivers committed in the 2023 class: Miami Edison four-star prospect Nathaniel Joseph and Miami Palmetto four-star prospect Robby Washington. Four-star Lakeland wide receiver Tyler Williams posted on his Twitter that he was in South Florida this weekend, as well.
