Florida State enjoyed a tremendous 2022 campaign from its wide receiver core, which was highlighted by 6-foot-7 redshirt sophomore Johnny Wilson who had 43 receptions for 897 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, coming into the 2023 season, the Seminoles will have to replace the likes of redshirt senior Ontaria Wilson (who exceeded eligibility- had 30 receptions for 495 yards and 4 touchdowns), redshirt senior Keyshawn Helton (who transferred over to Cincinnati), and sophomore Malik McClain (transferred to Penn State- had 17 receptions for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns).
The Seminoles currently have 11 scholarship receivers on its roster for the 2023 season:
-Winston Wright Jr, RS Sr
-Mycah Pittman Jr, RS Sr
-Johnny Wilson, RS Jr
-Kentron Poitier, RS Jr
-Deuce Spann, RS Jr
-JaKhi Douglas, RS Jr
-Darion Williamson, RS Jr
-Joshua Burrell, RS Soph
-Hykeem Williams, Fr
-Vandrevius Jacobs, Fr
-Darren “Goldie” Lawrence, Fr
While pass-catching weapons such as Johnny Wilson, Mycah Pittman Jr., and Winston Wright Jr. (if he is healthy) should be huge factors during the 2023 season. Underestimating true freshman Hykeem Williams could be a mistake.
Florida State had the 20th-best recruiting class, according to 2023 247Sports’ Composite rankings. The highest-ranked high school prospect in the class was five-star wide receiver Hykeem Williams from Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Williams excels at high-pointing the football effortlessly and making defenders miss in the open field. It certainly helps that the talented freshman is an early enrollee and will have eight months to prepare alongside his teammates. While it might be outlandish to suggest that a true freshman receiver could take the majority of the snaps and compete at an above average level with much of the core in place at Florida State, it isn’t out of the question to suggest that the Seminoles could have a few packages for Williams. Especially since Florida State plays Southern Miss, Boston College, Virginia Tech, North Alabama, among others in 2023.
Statistic Prediction: 15 receptions for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns
