UM lands another elite commitment
Williams, a pledge for 2020 class, joins top back Lingard.
The commitment of fivestar running back Lorenzo Lingard wasn’t the only good news Miami received on Thursday night.
One of the top freshman in America last year, athlete Avantae “Tae” Williams, committed to the Hurric anes shor t ly af ter. Williams i s reportedly Lingard’s cousin.
Wi l l i a m s w a s n a m e d a M a x P r e p s f r e s h m a n All -Americ an i n hi s f i r s t season at DeLand High, in which he recorded 77 tackles and forced two fumbles playing safety. At 6-feet and 170 pounds, he also could play on offense.
F l o r i d a , S o u t h C a r o - lina and Georgia offered Wi l l i a ms , a c c o r d i n g t o 247Sports and the Orlando Sentinel.
He is the first player to commit to Miami for 2020. According to 247Sports, only one other school — Texas A&M — has accepted a pledge from a rising sophomore.
UM h a s t h r e e p l aye r s committed for 2019 — fivestar defenders Akeem Dent (Pahokee) and Diamante Howard, and unranked linebacker Jesiah Pierre.
UM’s 2018 class, headlined by Lingard, includes eight prospects and is ranked No. 2 nationally.
Lingard (6-0, 180), from Orange City-University, is rated the second-best running back in the country and No. 15 player overall by 247Sports.
ESPN, which rates Lingard sixth at his position and No. 45 overall, said he has “a very impressive blend of size, speed and athleticism,” and has the potential be a “bell cow type running back at the next level.”
H e r u s h e d f o r 1 , 4 1 8 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior, according to 247Sports.
Lingard is possibly the most important recruit in Miami’s 2018 class, with Mark Walton entering his draft- eligible season and UM light in numbers at his position. He is also the highest-rated running back to commit to Miami since Duke Johnson, a five-star in 2012.
Lingard told Canesport he was also consider ing Ohio State. He wanted to shut his recruitment down “to get some other guys on board with me.” He also mentioned he wants to be a 2020 Olympian in the 400meter hurdles.
UM t argets Clemson player: Miami is reportedly interested in adding another Clemson grad transfer.
T h e Hu r r i c a n e s , who recently reached out to former Tigers running back Tyshon Dye, have been in heavy contact with corner- back Adrian Baker, according to 247Sports.
Baker received his release to transfer Wednesday, per multiple reports, and will graduate in May. A Hallandale native, he played his high school ball at Hollywood-Chaminade.
As of Friday, 247Sports reported, UM, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech had contacted him most among, well, a baker’s dozen (13) programs.
B a ke r, 2 2 , r e p o r t e d l y plans to take several official visits this spring, and will see Miami (along with FIU, FAU and UCF) during spring break next month.
The Hurricanes, who lose star Corn Elder and major contributor Adrian Colbert to graduation, added junior college transfer Jhavonte Dean, who will be a junior, and freshman Trajan Bandy to compete with sophomore Malek Young (started final four games of 2016) and juniors Sheldrick Redwine and Michael Jackson. Senior Ryan Mayes and junior Terrance Henley are UM’s other scholarship corners, though neither has played meaningful snaps.
At Clemson, Baker (6-1, 180) had 14 tackles and two interceptions in 266 snaps over 15 career games. He started three games in 2015 before tearing his ACL in practice last March.