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2019 Daphne (AL) CB Christian Williams flipped from Alabama to Miami this morning during his signing day ceremony. He is the 16th signee to ink in Surge19.
The 6-1, 180-pounder is currently a consensus 4-star in the national rankings. According to the 247Composite, Williams is the #160 player nationally, the #20 CB in the country, and the #7 player in Alabama. Williams' commitment moves Miami up to the #28 overall class in the team rankings on 247Sports and #34 overall on Rivals.
Recruiting Story
Williams has been a highly-regarded recruit throughout the entire cycle, having landed offers from the majority of the SEC by the end of the spring. The Alabama product committed to the Crimson Tide back in April and seemed destined to stay in-state, but did not sign in the early signing period when it came time. By the time mid-January came around, it was clear Nick Saban had filled up at defensive back and Williams would no longer have a spot in the class.
It wasn’t long until Miami saw an opportunity to get involved and set up an official visit with Williams. Since impressing Williams on his OV, the UM staff had been extremely confident that they would reel in Williams on signing day. After subsequent officials to Texas A&M and LSU, Williams made the call to be a Hurricane in what was a huge recruiting win for Mike Rumph and Manny Diaz.
Evaluation
Williams has the prototypical size at 6’1” that many scouts are salivating over these days and is definitely a “new age” corner. Breaks on the ball well, closes on throws anywhere near his area, and lets the QB’s eyes guide him around the gridiron. Great pattern anticipation allows him to undercut routes frequently. He’s a ball tracker that attacks the rock at it’s highest point and uses his leaping ability to snag the interception. More of a long-strider than a track-star, but his top-end speed is very good. A true athlete in every sense that plays all over the field as a receiver, wildcat QB, returner, and kick-blocking specialist in addition to corner.
The Team
Williams is the second cornerback in the class, joining Chaminade-Madonna 4-star Te'Cory Couch. Miami will lose established starter Michael Jackson, as well as Jhavonte Dean, to graduation and are left pretty thin in terms of experience at corner for 2019. Aside from Trajan Bandy, only DJ Ivey and Al Blades Jr. saw meaningful time as freshmen last season, and it wasn’t much overall. Gilbert Frierson and Nigel Bethel are the other returnees at corner and both redshirted last season. Miami is hoping Blades and Ivey have developed enough to handle full-time starting roles, with Bandy manning the slot, holding it down in nickel packages, and playing outside in some scenarios.
Redshirt Probability: 2/10
While Bandy, Ivey, and Blades has the potential to be a more than solid top 3, there is just not much returning depth for the Canes at corner. There will be immediate playing time available for Williams if he comes in and shows he can handle the college game mentally and he is much more physically ready than his classmate Couch. He came to UM in part for the chance to play right away and I doubt he sits in 2019.
The 6-1, 180-pounder is currently a consensus 4-star in the national rankings. According to the 247Composite, Williams is the #160 player nationally, the #20 CB in the country, and the #7 player in Alabama. Williams' commitment moves Miami up to the #28 overall class in the team rankings on 247Sports and #34 overall on Rivals.
Recruiting Story
Williams has been a highly-regarded recruit throughout the entire cycle, having landed offers from the majority of the SEC by the end of the spring. The Alabama product committed to the Crimson Tide back in April and seemed destined to stay in-state, but did not sign in the early signing period when it came time. By the time mid-January came around, it was clear Nick Saban had filled up at defensive back and Williams would no longer have a spot in the class.
It wasn’t long until Miami saw an opportunity to get involved and set up an official visit with Williams. Since impressing Williams on his OV, the UM staff had been extremely confident that they would reel in Williams on signing day. After subsequent officials to Texas A&M and LSU, Williams made the call to be a Hurricane in what was a huge recruiting win for Mike Rumph and Manny Diaz.
Evaluation
Williams has the prototypical size at 6’1” that many scouts are salivating over these days and is definitely a “new age” corner. Breaks on the ball well, closes on throws anywhere near his area, and lets the QB’s eyes guide him around the gridiron. Great pattern anticipation allows him to undercut routes frequently. He’s a ball tracker that attacks the rock at it’s highest point and uses his leaping ability to snag the interception. More of a long-strider than a track-star, but his top-end speed is very good. A true athlete in every sense that plays all over the field as a receiver, wildcat QB, returner, and kick-blocking specialist in addition to corner.
The Team
Williams is the second cornerback in the class, joining Chaminade-Madonna 4-star Te'Cory Couch. Miami will lose established starter Michael Jackson, as well as Jhavonte Dean, to graduation and are left pretty thin in terms of experience at corner for 2019. Aside from Trajan Bandy, only DJ Ivey and Al Blades Jr. saw meaningful time as freshmen last season, and it wasn’t much overall. Gilbert Frierson and Nigel Bethel are the other returnees at corner and both redshirted last season. Miami is hoping Blades and Ivey have developed enough to handle full-time starting roles, with Bandy manning the slot, holding it down in nickel packages, and playing outside in some scenarios.
Redshirt Probability: 2/10
While Bandy, Ivey, and Blades has the potential to be a more than solid top 3, there is just not much returning depth for the Canes at corner. There will be immediate playing time available for Williams if he comes in and shows he can handle the college game mentally and he is much more physically ready than his classmate Couch. He came to UM in part for the chance to play right away and I doubt he sits in 2019.
