Miami Hurricanes commit Riley Williams at the UA Future 50: "I 110% made the right decision"
Being an Oregon Duck was a family tradition for four-star tight end Riley Williams.
One of the newest members of the IMG Academy team had two uncles and his brother play in Eugene, but the University of Miami commit had other plans, and that is due to in large part to Canes head Coach Mario Cristobal.
“110% the right decision,” Williams told CaneSport about his commitment to the Hurricanes. “I’ve talked it over with my family before I made the decision of course. I talked with them for long periods of time and it was definitely the best decision for me.”
Cristobal had been steadily recruiting Williams since he was an eighth grader in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. While at Oregon, Cristobal offered Williams a scholarship his sophomore year and continued his pursuit of the 6-foot-6 230-pound tight end after his move to Coral Gables.
“I’m going to be in everyone’s ear, I know Francis (Mauigoa) is, I know Jayden Wayne is. We are all going to be around there saying the U is where it’s at.”
Riley Williams
“He says he has big plans for me,” said Williams. “I feel like if I come in and do what I’m supposed to do, in terms of being able to get on the field, play, and perform he said he’s got big things for me so I just have to take up my part.”
Williams chose the Hurricanes over the likes of Ohio State and Alabama, among others. After transferring from Central Catholic Portland (Ore.) to IMG Academy (Fl.) for this fall, Williams wants to improve his game as an all-around tight end.
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“Overall, I feel like I can do everything that a tight end is supposed to do in terms of blocking and catching the ball,” he said. “A lot of people label me as a patch catcher, so this season I’m, definitely going to work on my blocking skills and show them that I can do both things.”
With fellow IMG teammates, Francis Mauigoa and Jayden Wayne, also committed to the Canes, the trio is adamant about creating a pipeline from IMG to Coral Gables.
“We’ve got a group chat of our 2023 commits,” Williams said. “We talk and chat in the group chat about football and who else we should be getting in their ear about recruiting.
“I’m going to be in everyone’s ear, I know Francis (Mauigoa) is, I know Jayden Wayne is. We are all going to be around there saying the U is where it’s at.”
