Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 41 Riley Williams
The Miami Hurricanes have massively reshaped the roster from a year ago with five primary offensive starters gone (QB Tyler Van Dyke, RB Henry Parrish, WR Colbie Young, OL Javion Cohen and Matt Lee) along with seven on the defensive side (DT Leonard Taylor, DT Branson Deen, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, S Kam Kinchens, S James Williams, CB Jaden Davis and CB Te’Cory Couch).
50. RB JORDAN LYLE … 49. RB CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON … 48. DE COLE MCCONATHY … 47. S ZAQUAN PATTERSON … 46. TE CAM MCCORMICK … 45. NY CARR … 44. JUSTIN SCOTT … 43. OT Markel Bell … 42. RB AJAY ALLEN
Which brings us to our annual series breaking down the top 50 players on the current roster. As we go along on this list you’ll get an idea of the overall depth of talent on Mario Cristobal’s team this year as he seeks Miami’s second 10-win season in the last two decades.
Today we are at No. 41:
NO. 41 TE RILEY WILLIAMS
Why He’s No. 41
A rangy 6-6 target, Williams was thrust into action as a true freshman in 2023 with Elijah Arroyo out (working behind blocking tight end Cam McCormick) and was up-and-down. But that experience should be invaluable, and we expect a much better version of Williams this season. Last year Williams had eight catches for 72 yards and a TD (against Georgia Tech) while coming off the bench in 11 games. He finished playing a sizable amount of reps – 316 – and graded out at 54.9 percent overall per Pro Football Focus with a 52.6 grade as a pass catcher, 57.0 pass blocking and 58.0 run blocking. A four-star prospect out of IMG Academy, he was an Under Armour All-America Game selection and showed his receiving skills as a junior at Central Catholic (Ore.) High School with 36 catches for 889 yards and 14 TDs. He had other offers out of high school from the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, FSU, LSU, Michigan and Texas. This spring he looked like he bulked up while maintaining his speed, a good sign for the future.
What he needs to do to move up this list
Williams will have to show coaches he deserves reps this fall, since the competition is going to be a lot greater this time around with Elijah Arroyo healthy and the arrival and emergence of true freshman H-back/TE/RB Elija Lofton this spring. Cam McCormick also returns as a blocking option. So Williams will need to show that combination of size and athleticism plus reliability if he wants to see the field a lot this season. But certainly the ability is there for him to be an outstanding all-around tight end.
Realistic season objective
There are several capable players in the tight ends room, but they have different skillsets with Cam McCormick the blocker and Elija Lofton an H-back who will also line up at running back. Which really leaves Elijah Arroyo as the main do-everything guy, a similar situation to Williams. If Arroyo continues to be banged up (as he has been the last two years) then we can see Williams getting a lot of reps. Otherwise he’s more likely to be a second-teamer for Miami with perhaps a similar workload to a year ago. Realistically he can be a guy with 10-20 catches that also helps as a blocker … if Arroyo stays healthy and is playing at a high level. If Arroyo falters then Williams could be in line for a lot more production.
The post Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 41 Riley Williams appeared first on On3.
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