Pitt, FSU or Texas A&M? Inside the recruitment of 5-star receiver Hykeem Williams
Emily Beck
Published Apr 06, 2026
Hykeem Williams loves traveling and meeting new people.
But the five-star receiver out of Fort Lauderdale Stranahan High has only started to venture outside his home state of Florida in the past year.
He’s been to Alabama, Georgia, Texas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and a bunch of states in between.
At 6-3, 210 pounds — and blessed with freakish athleticism, a 6-foot, 6-inch wingspan and 10.6-speed in the 100-yard dash — most believe it’s only a matter of time before he ends up on stage at the NFL Draft shaking the hand of the commissioner.
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“You’re probably talking about the best receiver prospect down here in south Florida since Andre Johnson,” Charles Fishbein of Elite Scouting Services said.
“I met Julio Jones in high school. That’s what Julio looked like. I feel confident saying DK Metcalf probably looked like that as well.
“Hykeem is really special.”
Fishbein, a longtime area scout on speed dial with college football coaches across the country, is hardly alone. Alabama’s Nick Saban, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher, Miami’s Mario Cristobal, Florida State’s Mike Norvell and Pittsburgh’s Pat Narduzzi think Williams is special, too.
They’re all hoping the nation’s top uncommitted receiver — ranked 19th regardless of position in the 247Sports Composite — chooses them when he announces his college commitment on Sept. 23 during a ceremony inside his school library.
247Composite Top 100 uncommitted players
| Player | POS | Size | Hometown | 247Comp Rk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cormani McClain | CB | 6-2, 165 | Lakeland, FL | 5-star (No. 3) |
David Hicks | DL | 6-4, 270 | Katy, TX | 5-star (No. 7) |
Nyckoles Harbor | ATH | 6-5, 225 | Washington, DC | 5-star (No. 10) |
James Smith | DL | 6-4, 310 | Montgomery, AL | 5-star (No. 13) |
Samson Okunlola | OT | 6-5, 305 | Brockton, MA | 5-star (No. 14) |
Hykeem Williams | WR | 6-3, 200 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 5-star (No. 19) |
Duce Robinson | TE | 6-6, 225 | Phoenix, AZ | 5-star (No. 20) |
Samuel M'Pemba | Edge | 6-4, 240 | Bradenton, FL | 5-star (No. 25) |
Qua Russaw | Edge | 6-2, 230 | Montgomery, AL | 5-star (No. 26) |
Matayo Uiagalelei | Edge | 6-5, 265 | Bellflower, CA | 5-star (No. 27) |
Damon Wilson | Edge | 6-4, 230 | Venice, FL | 5-star (No. 29) |
Javien Toviano | CB | 6-0, 185 | Arlington, TX | 4-star (No. 35) |
Bravion Rogers | CB | 5-10, 185 | La Grange, TX | 4-star (No. 39) |
Cedric Baxter Jr. | RB | 6-1, 215 | Orlando, FL | 4-star (No. 48) |
Zalance Heard | OT | 6-5, 300 | Monroe, LA | 4-star (No. 60) |
Monroe Freeling | OT | 6-7, 283 | Mount Pleasant, SC | 4-star (No. 62) |
Jalen Hale | WR | 6-2, 175 | Longview, TX | 4-star (No. 64) |
Jeremiyah Love | ATH | 6-0, 190 | St. Louis, MO | 4-star (No. 66) |
Tausili Akana | Edge | 6-4, 225 | Lehi, UT | 4-star (No. 69) |
Kelby Collins | DL | 6-5, 280 | Gardendale, AL | 4-star (No. 70) |
Makari Vickers | S | 6-1, 180 | Tallahassee, FL | 4-star (No. 82) |
Jordan Renaud | DL | 6-3, 245 | Tyler, TX | 4-star (No. 86) |
Jacobe Johnson | ATH | 6-3, 183 | Mustang, OK | 4-star (No. 87) |
Rodrick Pleasant | CB | 5-11, 180 | Gardena, CA | 4-star (No. 88) |
Malachi Coleman | ATH | 6-5, 190 | Lincoln, NE | 4-star (No. 89) |
Dijon Johnson | CB | 6-1, 190 | Tampa, FL | 4-star (No. 93) |
Rueben Bain | DL | 6-2, 250 | Miami, FL | 4-star (No. 97) |
Tomarrion Parker | DL | 6-4, 250 | Phenix City, AL | 4-star (No. 100) |
Williams told The Athletic over the weekend he’s narrowed his selection down, but he is waiting to see how all six of his finalists start the season before making a final decision.
Is he nervous he’s going to have to tell five coaches he’s grown to like he’s going elsewhere?
“Not really,” Williams said. “You can only choose one.”
The most important person, Williams said, has his back no matter what.
“Mom wants me to stay close to home,” he said. “But she’s down with whatever.”
The recruiting process has been enjoyable, Williams said. He took official visits to Georgia and Pittsburgh in June and has made multiple unofficial visits to Texas A&M, Alabama, Miami and Florida State.
Before he started taking college trips, Williams said he had only left the state once to play in an AAU basketball tournament in Atlanta.
Of all the places he’s visited, Williams said he had the most fun in Pittsburgh.
“My flight got in at night, but the lights were beautiful,” Williams said. “When you go through that tunnel and come out, it’s the most beautiful thing in the world.”
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“Texas A&M is unique,” Williams continued. “It’s unique to have your own city like College Station. It’s beautiful. Everybody there loves football.”
What was it like sitting in Saban’s office at Alabama?
“My mom freaked out,” Williams said. “She had her camera out before we even talked to him.
“Georgia, those boys eat and grind football, too. That’s a football school for sure.
“Florida State, I went to their second fall practice. Those boys work, and I like to work. Coach Norvell is so intense. You can feel the energy.
“Miami, they’re building something crazy down here.”
Miami was the first school to offer him a scholarship.
“Manny Diaz and Rob Likens – Jan. 1, 2021,” he said. “I didn’t really play until my 10th-grade year and we only played five games.”
Williams said Diaz’s replacement, Cristobal, and Miami’s coaching staff text him more than any other school.
“They show me they really want me,” Williams said.
But staying home for college probably isn’t in the cards for Williams.
Williams, who turns 19 in November, said he and his older sister, Angel, 20, spent a lot of time at home while their mother worked in the local court system.
“Seeing how my Mom raised us on her own motivates me,” he said. “I know it’s tough. Most of the time she was working. Whenever she wasn’t working, she’d take us to Dave & Busters, Boomers or a water park. We had fun.”
But football can take you places you never imagined.
Williams doesn’t deny future earnings in name, image and likeness will factor into his decision. But he says it’s more about picking a school that can best help him get to the NFL.
“I’m looking for that long money,” Williams said. “That NFL money.”
5-star WRs to come out of Florida since 2005
Players
| Class
| 247Comp Rk
| Score
| College
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fred Rouse | 2005 | 5-star (No. 5) | 0.998 | |
Calvin Ridley | 2015 | 5-star (No. 12) | 0.9932 | |
Andre Debose | 2009 | 5-star (No. 15) | 0.9917 | |
Deon Cain | 2015 | 5-star (No. 18) | 0.9906 | |
Sammy Watkins | 2011 | 5-star (No. 20) | 0.9906 | |
George Campbell | 2015 | 5-star (No. 19) | 0.9903 | |
Ermon Lane | 2014 | 5-star (No. 24) | 0.9892 | |
Hykeem Williams | 2023 | 5-star (No. 19) | 0.9884 | |
Jerry Jeudy | 2017 | 5-star (No. 21) | 0.9881 | |
Brandon Inniss | 2023 | 5-star (No. 21) | 0.988 | |
Deonte Thompson | 2007 | 5-star (No. 23) | 0.9872 | |
Ja'Corey Brooks | 2021 | 5-star (No. 27) | 0.9862 | |
Nelson Agholor | 2012 | 5-star (No. 30) | 0.9854 |
Since 2005, the state of Florida has churned out 13 five-star recruits at the receiver position, according to the 247Sports Composite. Williams is the third-highest ranked recruit to come out of South Florida behind 2018 first-round pick Calvin Ridley and former Florida State receiver Ermon Lane.
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Travis Harden, who played his college ball at the University of Dubuque, a Division III program in Iowa, has coached Williams since his basketball teammates at Stranahan finally convinced him to play football in the ninth grade.
“We had been trying to get him out for a month,” Harden recalled. “Then he shows up the day before our first JV game. He went out to practice and caught four passes. Four touchdowns. The next day, in his first game, he caught three passes. Three touchdowns. First was a slant. He got hit, spun around and went 80 yards. Nobody could catch him. Right then I said, “we may have something.”
After scoring five touchdowns in his next game, Harden said he moved Williams up to varsity. Williams has been on an upward trajectory ever since.
He caught 40 passes for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, leading Stranahan to a 7-5 season and the second round of the state playoffs.
“At first, I was just having fun,” Williams said. “Now, I know what football can do for me. I want to be the best at it. I want to be talked about when I’m done playing.”
As good as he was in football last season, Williams was equally dominant on the basketball court. He led the Mighty Dragons to a third consecutive state title last March averaging 12.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. His dual-sport starring roles won him The Miami Herald’s Athlete of the Year award in Broward County.
“He’s a banger on the court,” Harden said. “He’s not afraid of contact. If you ask me, I think he may end up being a tight end, which (there’s) nothing wrong with it. He can make big money playing tight end.”
In the time he’s been coaching him, Harden said he challenged Williams to improve in many facets, including his blocking and doing more when the ball isn’t in his hands. Williams responded. There are highlights of him blocking defensive backs off the field.
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“But the play that stands out was on special teams,” Harden said. “He was blocking. My return man caught the ball and he was five to seven yards ahead of Hykeem. You see Hykeem catching up to him, running 22 miles per hour. Initially, he didn’t have that play on his highlight tape. He put it on there and colleges started calling. They haven’t stopped.”
Neither have rival high school programs, Harden said.
He said Williams is special because of the loyalty he’s shown to him and his high school teammates.
“Everybody tried to throw the kitchen sink, washer and dryer to get him to leave Stranahan,” Harden said. “He just loves the brotherhood we’ve built here and that’s what he’s looking for at the college level, somewhere it can be a family atmosphere. Because at the end of the day, NIL is available everywhere, and he and his family will be taken care of. So it’s a matter of going somewhere to be developed for the next level.”
Harden said what will help Williams get to the NFL is his positive attitude and maturity.
He said Williams is always smiling and eager to help others.
“We had a kid who drove to school and caught a flat after practice,” Harden said. “I was in my office doing paperwork and the kids came and got a jack. When I walked out there, Hykeem was coming back from basketball practice. He was standing there coaching this kid through the tire change – not doing it for him but showing him how to do it.
“Hykeem said to the kid, ‘If you show a man how to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.’ He’s just a very old soul. I love him, man. I’m going to miss him when he’s gone.”
Williams doesn’t study a lot of film, but when he does, he studies Pro Bowl NFL receivers Metcalf, Ja’Marr Chase, Mike Evans and Davante Adams. Williams considers himself far from a finished product.
“Everything I do, I can get better at,” Williams said. “I’m not perfect.”
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What’s the No. 1 question he’s gotten from college coaches?
“Why did I visit Rutgers?” Williams says with a giggle. “I told them (Pittsburgh receivers coach Tiquan) Underwood was there. I’ve known him since my recruitment started.”
Underwood is the position coach Williams is closest to, but Florida State’s Ron Dugans isn’t far behind.
Florida State also has a key player in its corner: linebacker Omar Graham. The Seminoles signed the three-star recruit out of Stranahan last year, and he and Williams are close.
It’s obvious Pittsburgh and Florida State will be serious factors in his final decision, but most recruiting experts are projecting he will end up at Texas A&M.
How much will a team’s depth chart sway his final decision?
“A little bit,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I’m going to put my work in.”
Nothing, though, will factor in more than relationships, Williams said.
“Whatever program he does select, they’re going to get a great kid in the classroom and on the field,” Harden said. “He’s going to work past normal hours. They’re going to have to shut him down because he’s a workaholic. I know for a fact he’s going to dominate the next level. He’s definitely a Sunday player.”
(Top photo: Manny Navarro / The Athletic)
