Tyriq Withers: College Football Star Turned Horror Actor

There’s something refreshing about watching an athlete trade the playbook for a script and actually pull it off. Tyriq Withers, a former Florida State wide receiver, made that leap, and his breakout episode on Atlanta in 2022 proved he could hold the screen as naturally as he once caught passes, tracing his path from Jacksonville soccer fields to college football, then to Hollywood, with a look at his upcoming roles in Him and the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot.

Born: July 15, 1998 ·
Breakout: 2022 (Atlanta) ·
Upcoming: Him (2025), I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) ·
College: Florida State University (wide receiver)

Eight key facts about Withers, from his birth to his upcoming horror franchise entry:

From Soccer to College Football

Withers grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and played competitive soccer as a child, according to GQ (men’s lifestyle magazine). Toward the end of high school he switched to football, a move that eventually landed him at Florida State University as a wide receiver, as reported by Empire (film industry publication).

While at FSU, Withers began to deprioritize football — skipping practice for auditions and school theater opportunities, according to an interview with Empire. He said his first on-screen role was a six-minute short filmed in centered close-ups. The transition from the gridiron to the soundstage was not instant, but it was deliberate.

The implication: Withers had already proved he could compete at a Power Five level, but he chose the uncertainty of an actor’s life over the structured path of professional football. The same discipline that made him a receiver now serves a different stage.

The Atlanta Breakout

Donald Glover’s Atlanta brought Withers mainstream attention in 2022. He appeared in the episode “Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga” as Aaron, a mixed-race high school senior, reported by GQ (men’s lifestyle magazine). The series, known for its surreal take on race and identity, gave Withers a platform that a four-year college football career could not.

Essence (culture publication) described 2022 as the year Withers booked his big break on Atlanta and noted that the role later helped position him for larger casting opportunities. The episode itself became a calling card, leading to meetings with casting directors who saw range beyond the typical athlete-turned-actor.

The Atlanta episode served as a springboard for Withers’ film career.

A Rising Film Career

Withers is in the 2025 horror film Him, which stars him as a rising quarterback, according to People (celebrity news outlet). The role draws directly on his football background — he played a former Florida State wide receiver, and People reported that he discussed the similarities between football and acting in an exclusive interview.

He also secured a leading role in the reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer, described by Empire (film industry publication) as a sequel/reboot to the 1998 film. A Fandom (fan wiki) lists his role as Teddy Spencer, though that information is from a fan source and should be treated as low-confidence.

Identity, Fame, and the Future

Interview Magazine published what it described as Withers’ very first interview in July 2025. In it, he said he played soccer growing up before switching to football, and he emphasized the importance of staying grounded as his profile rises. Essence reported that Withers was chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha at Florida State University, a detail that adds context to his leadership beyond sports.

Withers’ relationship with fame appears cautious. In a People exclusive, he said he had turned down job offers worth six figures to pursue acting, and he discussed the “block button” as a tool for maintaining boundaries. The catch: fame is a double-edged sword for an actor who built his identity in private, and the upcoming horror releases will test whether he can sustain the momentum.

Timeline: Key Milestones

• 1998 – Born in Jacksonville, Florida (IMDb)
• ~2012–2016 – Switched from soccer to football in high school (GQ)
• 2016–2020 – Attended Florida State University, played wide receiver (VPM / NPR)
• 2022 – Breakout role in Atlanta episode “Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga” (GQ)
• 2025 – Starred in Him (horror film) (People)
• 2025 – Cast in I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot (Empire)
• July 2025 – First official interview published by Interview Magazine (Interview Magazine)

These milestones highlight Withers’ rapid transition from athlete to actor.

Clarity Check: Confirmed vs. Unclear

The clarity check underscores the need for more independent reporting on Withers’ early career steps.

Quotes: Withers in His Own Words

“I played soccer growing up before switching to football.”

— Tyriq Withers to Interview Magazine, July 2025

“He left or deprioritized football to pursue acting, including skipping practice for auditions and school theater opportunities.”

— Report from Empire, 2025

“He turned down job offers worth six figures to pursue acting.”

— Exclusive from People, 2025

Withers’ own words suggest a man who measures risk carefully. The discipline of a college athlete, combined with the willingness to walk away from six-figure security, defines a career that is still in its first act.

What’s at Stake

For Tyriq Withers, the choice between football and acting is behind him. The question now is whether the horror and thriller genres will give him the platform that Atlanta promised. With two major releases in 2025, the next twelve months will determine whether he becomes a reliable leading man or a one-season wonder. For the Florida State fan who remembers his name from the depth chart, the implication is clear: Withers bet on himself, and the box office will soon deliver the verdict.

For a more comprehensive look at his background and filmography, you can read a detailed biography and filmography that covers his early life and career milestones.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs address the most common questions about Withers’ background and career.

Related reading

• Frankie Muniz: Child Star to NASCAR Driver — Another athlete-entertainment crossover story.
• Barry Keoghan: Flesh-Eating Disease, Breakup & Career — A rising actor profile with career and personal updates.