Florida State signed one consensus five-star player in the Mike Norvell era, wide receiver Hykeem Williams. The five-star rating was mostly based on size, speed, and potential, as Williams was a very raw product out of high school. Another reason not to put too much emphasis on high school recruiting rankings, but I digress.
Williams arrived at Florida State out of shape and looking more like a tight end before figuring out some things and playing a decent amount (eight games) as a freshman before missing the rest of the year with an injury. Williams played in nine games as a sophomore while dealing with injuries again before deciding to transfer to Colorado.
The departure was mutual, as Williams couldn’t stay healthy and failed to live up to the hype of his high school rating. He took a shot at FSU after arriving at Colorado, citing that he could already tell he’d get developed better under Coach Deion Sanders.
Ironically, history keeps repeating itself with the young man. He only appeared in six games in 2025, finishing with nine receptions for 81 yards. He never had more than three receptions and 26 yards in a game.
Williams can't stay healthy to save his life. Unfortunately, it has cost him development and the opportunity to maximize his opportunity.
Unfortunately, injuries have hit Williams this spring, forcing him to miss all of spring camp at Colorado.
Some FSU fans speculate about the injuries that happen at Florida State, but the reality is that players from all college teams suffer injuries. It’s a contact sport; it only seems like it happens more at Florida State because fans actively follow what’s happening with the team more than other teams.
When Williams left, fans groaned that a five-star player had been lost, but he hadn’t done anything notable while at FSU, and that trend has continued since his departure. Again, I say, stop putting so much stock into high school rankings because they project more than evaluate.
Williams is a prime example.