When people talk about the greatest receivers to ever come through Pullman, the names usually roll off the tongue like a greatest-hits album. River Cracraft. Gabe Marks. Marquess Wilson. But honestly, if you aren't putting Kyle Williams Washington State stats right up there with the legends, you’ve basically been watching a different game.
He didn't just play for Wazzu. He saved his best for the biggest moments when the program was staring down the barrel of Pac-12 extinction.
Most folks remember the 2024 season as a chaotic year of "Pac-2" survival, but for Williams, it was a masterclass. He wasn't some blue-chip recruit who walked into a starting role with a silver spoon. No, this was a kid from Inglewood who had to switch positions just to get a look. He's a converted quarterback. Seriously. You can see it in how he reads defenses—sorta like he’s still under center, processing the safety’s hip movement before the ball even leaves the quarterback's hand.
Why Kyle Williams Washington State Highlights Are Different
You’ve seen the speed. It's real. At the 2025 NFL Combine, he clocked a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash. Fast? Yeah. But speed is cheap in college football. What made Williams a nightmare for defensive coordinators wasn't just the "take the top off" vertical threat; it was the sheer efficiency.
He didn't drop the ball.
In 2024, he caught 70 passes for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns. Let those numbers sink in for a second. That yardage total was the fourth-most in WSU history for a single season. The 14 scores? Second-most ever. He became the first Cougar wideout to crack the 1,000-yard mark since 2019. That's a long drought for a school known for "Air Raid" DNA, even if the scheme had evolved under Jake Dickert.
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The Holiday Bowl Record Nobody Expected
If you want to know what Kyle Williams is made of, look at his final game in a WSU uniform. The 2024 Holiday Bowl against Syracuse.
The stadium was buzzing, and Williams went absolutely nuclear. 10 catches. 172 yards. A 66-yard touchdown that looked like he was running on a treadmill while everyone else was stuck in mud. He didn't just have a good game; he broke Dez Bryant’s 2008 Holiday Bowl record for receiving yards.
Think about that.
Breaking a record held by an NFL All-Pro while leading your team through one of the most uncertain periods in school history. It’s the kind of performance that moves you from "college star" to "NFL draft priority."
From Inglewood to Pullman: The Position Switch
The story most people miss is that Kyle Williams was a backup quarterback at Narbonne High School. He actually transferred to Hawthorne for his junior year just to get reps at QB. He was good, too—throwing for over 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns.
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But then he met Steve Clarkson.
Clarkson is the guru who worked with guys like Ben Roethlisberger and Nick Foles. He looked at Williams and basically told him he was playing the wrong position. He saw the twitch. He saw the frame. He told him to move to receiver.
Williams listened. He trusted the process, moved to St. Monica, and the rest is history. He started at UNLV, earned Freshman All-American honors, and then took the leap to the Palouse.
The New England Patriots Era Begins
When the 2025 NFL Draft rolled around, some scouts were worried about his size. He’s 6'0" and roughly 186 pounds. Not a "big" receiver by traditional NFL standards. But the New England Patriots didn't care about the measurables as much as the production.
They took him with the 69th overall pick in the third round.
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It makes sense. The Patriots have always valued guys who can create separation and win contested catches. Despite his thinner build, Williams had a contested catch rate of over 62% in his final college season. That is elite. He’s not just a speedster; he’s a "catch-and-run artist" who eliminates pursuit angles.
What Most Scouts Got Wrong
- Size vs. Strength: People thought he’d get jammed at the line. He didn't. His footwork is too precise.
- The Route Tree: Critics said he only ran deep routes. In reality, he averaged 8.4 yards after catch per reception. He was a monster on screens and slants.
- The "System" Label: Because he played at WSU, some thought his stats were inflated. Breaking Dez Bryant's record against a Power 5 defense in a bowl game effectively ended that conversation.
What’s Next for the Former Cougar?
If you're following his transition to the pros, keep an eye on his snap counts from the slot. While he played mostly on the outside at Washington State, his ability to read coverages makes him a lethal option in the middle of the field.
For the fans back in Pullman, the legacy of Kyle Williams Washington State is set in stone. He’s the guy who stayed when everyone else was hitting the portal. He’s the guy who broke the 1,000-yard curse.
How to Track His Progress
- Watch the Preseason Targets: NFL teams use the preseason to see if a rookie's "separation" translates. If he’s getting 5+ targets a game, he’s a lock for the starting rotation.
- Special Teams Value: Keep an eye on his punt return reps. His vision from his QB days makes him a dangerous returner in space.
- The "YAC" Factor: If his yards after catch stay above 5.0 per reception in the NFL, he’s going to be a fantasy football darling for years.
Kyle Williams didn't just pass through Washington State; he redefined what it meant to be a WR1 in the new era of college football. Whether he’s burning a cornerback in the NFL or looking back at his record-breaking night in San Diego, one thing is clear: he’s a lot more than just a 4.4 forty.
Actionable Insight: If you're analyzing his pro potential, focus on his "Yards Per Route Run." At 2.71 in his final college year, he was more efficient than most first-round picks. Watch for that efficiency to be the barometer for his success in New England.