One of the top recruits in the 2023 freshman class chose local school Nebraska over offers from some of the biggest schools in the nation. Malachi Coleman is one of the biggest names when it comes to freshmen who could make an immediate impact, and the same is true for Hykeem Williams.
Williams chose Florida State and Seminoles fans are ecstatic about his potential, so he too could be a prime candidate to see the field in his freshman year. Let’s take a look at these freshman wide receivers and their potential for the 2023 college football season and beyond.
Malachi Coleman – Wide Receiver, Nebraska
Malachi Coleman is considered the number one recruit in the state of Nebraska, and one of the most impressive athletes in the class. He played both ways at Lincoln East High School in Nebraska, with ten touchdowns in his junior year and 57 tackles, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles playing off the edge on defense.
Coleman is six foot four and over 200 pounds with an imposing frame for a freshman. He will now focus on playing wide receiver in college where his experience as a track athlete at the high school level could help him separate from defenders.
Not only is he a great football player, but Coleman is an inspiration off the field too. He was abandoned by his birth mother at a young age and suffered abuse in the foster care system before finally being adopted by a loving family, and he now uses his platform for good.
He was a part of one of the first high school NIL deals with a local taco shop, coming up with the idea to promote the taco shop in exchange for a percentage of the profits to go to supporting the foster system. He’s a great kid with a wealth of talent for the game of football.
Hykeem Williams
Hykeem Williams is a five star recruit who was ranked as the number four receiver in the country by 247 Sports. He’s another of the taller freshman wideouts in the class, standing six foot three and 200 pounds when he got to Florida State.
Williams played at Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and had offers from all the big schools in the country. He was offered by Florida & Miami as well as out of state schools like Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon and Penn State.
In his junior year of high school he broke out with 40 catches for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns, attracting the attention of the biggest names in college football recruiting.
2023-2024 CFB Season Opportunity
Malachi Coleman
The Nebraska Corn Huskers added multiple freshman wide receivers during this recruiting class, but Malachi Coleman is the clear front runner. While three star recruit Jaidyn Doss has plenty of potential of his own, Coleman looks set to be the star of the class.
Last season Trey Palmer came in from LSU as a transfer and posted over 1,000 yards as the Corn Huskers leading receiver. He then declared for the draft and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round, vacating that number one spot at Nebraska.
Coleman will likely be competing with Marcus Washington at the X position considering his six foot four frame. Washington had 31 catches last year for 471 yards and one touchdown, and I’d argue that Coleman has the potential to be far more explosive.
As far as playing time goes, barring Washington’s spot in the lineup I can’t see many more challenges restricting Coleman getting on the field. Nebraska fans will be hoping to see him as soon as possible and he could be a difference maker for their team, so why not put him out there?
Hykeem Williams
Florida State returns top pass catcher Johnny Wilson for the 2023 CFB season, who caught 43 passes for 897 yards and five touchdowns last season for the ‘Noles.
Pokey Wilson is now in the league on the L.A. Chargers roster, while Mycah Pittman transferred to the Utah Utes in a surprise move after looking good for Florida State last season.
The Seminoles spread the ball around a tonne last season. Wilson might have led the team but they didn’t have a 1,000 yard receiver and only two guys over 400 yards despite quarterback Jordan Travis throwing for over 3,200 passing yards.
This year Wilson will be joined by two new faces as the front three in the wide receiver room, and the question is whether Hykeem Williams could be one of those guys?
The ‘Noles did land Keon Coleman who was one of the biggest names in the wide receiver group within the transfer portal, coming across from Michigan State. He will likely have a key role and Winston Wright Jr is then expected to occupy the slot.
As it stands, Williams’ role would likely be a rotational role with the second group of wideouts. I’d be surprised if he didn’t see the field much at all as a highly anticipated five star recruit, but he will have to work extremely hard to be a consistent starter as a freshman.
Pro’s and Con’s for playing time
Malachi Coleman
The only drawback I can see with Coleman is that he’s a little raw at wide receiver. He was actually more productive in high school on defense, but has such great upside at wide receiver that he will now focus his efforts there.
At six foot four with track level speed the Nebraska wide receiver can blow by anybody on a go ball and find himself in the endzone, but his technical ability and route running will take some time to develop.
I’d imagine we see him play this season and certainly get some targets, but how will he fare against college level corners without having the same level of experience of production as some of his fellow freshman class members?
The positive side of getting him out there is of course the fact that it’s the best way for him to gain that experience. Two years from now he could be the main man for the Corn Huskers and if he develops in the right way that will more than likely be the case.
Hykeem Williams
At the end of the day Williams is a five star recruit who’s six foot three and ready to go. You could make a case for him getting on the field with that information alone. Five stars are always expected to be out there quicker than their fellow freshman class members, and Williams is no different.
Seminoles fans are already expecting big things, and the exit of both Mycah Pittman and Ontaria Wilson only exaggerates that.
Keon Coleman is six foot four and already has two seasons in college under his belt, including 798 yards and seven touchdowns for the Spartans last year. Williams will have to work in behind him, but he could learn a lot, and the ‘Noles seem to be looking towards having taller receivers be a key part of the game plan this coming season.
I don’t see many risks to playing him, only that Florida State has more experienced guys with similar skill sets on the roster, so fans might have to be just a little patient with him.
Why draft him in CFB fantasy leagues?
Malachi Coleman
Coleman is going to see some opportunities this year. I just wouldn’t expect them to be all that diverse. He only caught 17 passes in high school last year and 10 of those were touchdowns. The majority of his work on offense came via the go route with him just streaking past corners and safeties for easy catches.
The rest will come in time. Slick route running, contested catches, etc. He has the frame to be great, and that’s why I’d consider picking him up in your college football devy leagues.
The production might not jump off the page in year one, but with a year in the weight room at the college level under his belt and the development of a year’s worth of intense practice, this young man has crazy potential.
Hykeem Williams
If you can get your hands on five star wide receivers then you should. These guys are the very best each and every year and turn into quality college football wideouts more often than not.
The Florida State freshman receiver may have to wait his turn, but Johnny Wilson likely goes to the NFL if he has another good season, vacating the outside X receiver slot just in time for Hykeem to take up a prominent role in the offense.
Stock Radar as an NFL Prospect
Malachi Coleman 5%
I’d put Coleman at around 5% going into his freshman year. There’s no doubt he has the potential and if he lives up to expectations, fills out his frame and becomes the complete package as a wide receiver we will have a serious football player on our hands.
Hykeem Williams 9%
Hykeem has the it factor when you watch his high school tape. I can’t wait to see what he can do at the college level and he looks ready to go on arrival.
I’m frustrated that we might not see quite as much of him this year as we’d like to, but good things take time and we could be talking about Williams in a hurry come 2024.