C.J. Williams, a former wide receiver for the Wisconsin Badgers, has found a new home to conclude his career after entering the transfer portal. He has committed to Stanford, where he has one remaining year of eligibility.
Williams shared his decision on social media, referencing a passage from the Bible, “Finding The Will Of God… Psalm 119:105.”
His exit created a gap in Wisconsin’s receiving corps, particularly as it coincided with the loss of their top receiver, Will Pauling, who is now headed to Notre Dame.
Williams joined Wisconsin ahead of the 2023 season as part of Luke Fickell’s first transfer class, bringing high expectations after transferring from USC as a former top-100 recruit.
However, the 6-foot-1 wideout from California struggled to meet those expectations, appearing in 24 games over two years and recording 31 catches for 396 yards and two touchdowns. In 2024, he had 16 receptions for 248 yards and two touchdowns, showing flashes of potential but also facing challenges with consistency and drops.
Now, Williams joins a Stanford team that is also in a rebuilding phase under head coach Troy Taylor, after finishing with a 3-9 record in 2024. He will add experience to the team’s receiving options and has the opportunity to take on a more significant role closer to home.
In response to the departures of players like Williams and Pauling, the Badgers coaching staff has worked to bolster the receiver unit through the transfer portal, bringing in Idaho’s Mark Hamper and Ohio State’s Jayden Ballard.
This article originally appeared in Athlon Sports and has been shared across platforms.
