South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Four-star safety is ‘still considering’ the Hurricanes
DeLand’s Williams isn’t sure where he’ll end up after deserting Oregon
ORLANDO — Avantae Williams, a four-star safety from DeLand that remains uncommitted after college football’s Early Signing Period, said of the Miami Hurricanes he’s “still considering them” at the Under Armour AllAmerica Game’s media day on Saturday in Orlando.
Williams decommitted from Oregon earlier this month, and was once a UM commit going back a year and a half.
“They have a high shot,” Williams said of the Hurricanes. “That was my first team. Them and Florida were the first to offer me, and the staff from Florida is gone. They got a new staff, so that’s like the staff I’m closest to.”
With that said, Williams doesn’t have an official visit set with Miami in January. Using one of his five previously on Oregon, he knows where three of his remaining four officials will go and is unsure if he’ll use all four.
“I know for sure I’m going to Ole Miss, UF and Georgia,” Williams said. “I’m figuring things out with Miami and LSU right now [for the last visit].”
Williams said he’s going to Florida on Jan. 24, and Ole Miss on Jan. 31. He added he’s out of town the weekend of Jan. 17, so he may need to find a midweek slot for Georgia, which he said will certainly get a visit.
His ultimate decision will likely come down to National Signing Day on Feb. 5.
Whether Williams can get to Coral Gables for his official visit or not, he has visited the Hurricanes unofficially several times. He has a long-standing relationship with UM safeties coach Ephraim Banda.
“He’s honest about everything,”
Williams said. “He’s going to be honest with you, and he told me they got a lot of safeties. He told me everything. Still wants me, though.”
The Hurricanes signed three safeties early — four-star prospects in Homestead South Dade’s Keshawn Washington and Hialeah Champagnat’s Jalen Harrell, and three-star Miramar product Brian Balom.
Williams said Miami’s poor play to finish the season, ending on a three-game losing streak to FIU, Duke and Louisiana Tech, doesn’t deter him.
“I don’t really look at it,” he said. “That’s college football. It’s different.
“I don’t really care about the record. It’s cool. They got a solid defense. To me, they have one of the best defenses. Every game they lost has been a close game, so I wouldn’t say it’s the defense’s fault.”
Williams decommitted from
Oregon on Dec. 11 primarily because of the distance.
“It’s way too far,” he said. “It would take me a whole day to get home, and I got two kids.
“I just can’t go anywhere that takes a whole day. The distance
matters, but it’s not a big thing. I’ll go out of state. As long as I can drive. If it’s driving distance, I’ll do it.”
Williams said his Signing Day announcement will likely take place at DeLand High.