After a season full of historic highs, star WSU wide receiver Kyle Williams has had an eventful past week. On Jan. 4, Williams accepted an invite to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl before announcing his decision to declare for the NFL Draft on social media Thursday.
The East-West Shrine Bowl has been running since 1925 and supports Shriners Hospitals for Children. Williams announced his acceptance of the invite on his personal Instagram account.
Williams spent his first three seasons at UNLV, where he was a consistent contributor, before transferring to WSU for his last two years of eligibility (extended by COVID). Williams had the best year of his career in 2024, garnering a team-leading 1,198 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. Those totals were good enough for second and fourth respectively in WSU single-season history.
Williams’ biggest decision is arguably declaring for the NFL Draft. In a statement on Instagram, Williams thanked God, his family, his coaches and both the WSU and UNLV fanbases.
“To the Coug Nation, I want to thank you guys for all the unconditional love and support you guys have showed,” Williams said. “Even though it was two years, the comrade of this town made it feel like a lifetime.”
Williams notably did not mention Dickert in his statement.
Williams is not ranked amongst the top wide receivers on any current draft big boards, but could make up ground with a good performance in either of his upcoming player showcases, a pro day or at the NFL Combine if invited.
Williams is one of only two Cougs to have declared for the draft so far this year. Offensive lineman Esa Pole decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the draft, according to Greg Woods of the Spokesman-Review. Pole allowed zero sacks in 13 games last season.
The Shrine Bowl is the nation’s longest-running college football all-star game, meant to showcase talent to NFL scouts and executives. Williams will be playing amongst some of the nation’s most elite playmakers, including other star receivers, like NCAA receiving yards leaders Harold Fannin Jr. of Bowling Green and Nick Nash of San Jose State.
The Senior Bowl X account announced Williams had also accepted his invite to the game. The Senior Bowl plays under the same rules as the NFL’s Pro Bowl and has been played in Mobile, Ala. in every year of its 75-year existence. The game also features top players, like the Shrine Bowl, and is focused on seniors with sights set on the NFL.
Williams is the only senior headed to either of these bowl games, just one year after several Cougs participated.
Williams capped off his career at the DirecTV Holiday Bowl with a stellar performance, despite not having his starting quarterback, John Mateer, who transferred to Oklahoma. In the bowl game against No. 21 Syracuse, Williams broke Dez Bryant’s Holiday Bowl receiving yards record that had stood since 2008, this time going for 172 yards on 10 catches.