Out at Paradise Camp this weekend, Deland (FL) 4-star safety Avantae Williams proved why he is considered one of the top safeties in the nation, locking down most everyone he went up against. Williams even won the “Fastest Man” race held for the 2020 class and spoke to CIS after the event about the level of competition at Paradise.
“I think I was the best DB out here,” Williams said. “Nobody was that tough, I felt like it was easy. There was good competition out here though.”
The 5-11 170 pound prospect enjoyed the star power that Miami and head coach Manny Diaz brought to Paradise in the form of UM’s past great athletes, and Williams felt the former Cane he connected most with was a current NFL player.
“Deon Bush, he talked to me a lot,” Williams said. “I really like his style of play. He broke a lot of things down to me as in the way you can play certain things and the way the coaches teach it, eliminating things to make the game easier and slower.”
Williams pointed to “the culture” when asked what he likes about the Miami program, something he knows a lot about as a former UM commitment with a cousin on the team in sophomore running back Lorenzo Lingard. While Williams said Lingard doesn’t push him too much on recruiting, they do sometimes talk about what it’s like to play for “the U”.
“We just vibe and he just tells me the truth, the good and the bad about Miami,” Williams said.
After losing both starting safeties to the NFL over the offseason, the Canes and safeties coach Ephraim Banda are looking for replacements both on the team and in recruiting. Williams is somebody who Banda has invested a lot of time in, and sees him as the next great Miami safety.
“We’re close, I’ve known Banda since I was in middle school,” Williams said. “He tells me their defense is relentless. He sees me playing like a rover and a field safety.”
Williams has been on the Miami campus so many times and already knows everything there is to know about the program, but says that didn’t stop him from learning something new about UM after competing at Paradise.
“I learned a lot of new things about the way they coach here,” Williams said. “Technique, the way they teach things.”
Despite a great visit to Miami this weekend, Williams says he maintains his Oregon commitment.
“I’m still committed, I’m solid,” Williams said.
Although his commitment to the Ducks is still intact, Williams says that won’t stop him from continuing to take visits so he can be 100% sure of his decision.
“I’m going to take some more visits, but I don’t know where yet,” Williams said before adding, “I’m going to come back to Miami for an official. I’ll be taking my officials during the season.”
After his visits, Williams says he anticipates making a final decision in December, but that it’s not set in stone yet.
“I’m planning on signing early, but it’s not set yet, so I don’t want to put it out there and then I don’t (sign early),” Williams said. “I’m more focused on graduating, getting to college, and playing early.”
UM did not run combine testing at Paradise, but Williams most recently recorded a 4.52 40 time, a 4.25 shuttle, and a 36.20 vertical leap at the Opening Orlando regional in February.
“I think I was the best DB out here,” Williams said. “Nobody was that tough, I felt like it was easy. There was good competition out here though.”
The 5-11 170 pound prospect enjoyed the star power that Miami and head coach Manny Diaz brought to Paradise in the form of UM’s past great athletes, and Williams felt the former Cane he connected most with was a current NFL player.
“Deon Bush, he talked to me a lot,” Williams said. “I really like his style of play. He broke a lot of things down to me as in the way you can play certain things and the way the coaches teach it, eliminating things to make the game easier and slower.”
Williams pointed to “the culture” when asked what he likes about the Miami program, something he knows a lot about as a former UM commitment with a cousin on the team in sophomore running back Lorenzo Lingard. While Williams said Lingard doesn’t push him too much on recruiting, they do sometimes talk about what it’s like to play for “the U”.
“We just vibe and he just tells me the truth, the good and the bad about Miami,” Williams said.
After losing both starting safeties to the NFL over the offseason, the Canes and safeties coach Ephraim Banda are looking for replacements both on the team and in recruiting. Williams is somebody who Banda has invested a lot of time in, and sees him as the next great Miami safety.
“We’re close, I’ve known Banda since I was in middle school,” Williams said. “He tells me their defense is relentless. He sees me playing like a rover and a field safety.”
Williams has been on the Miami campus so many times and already knows everything there is to know about the program, but says that didn’t stop him from learning something new about UM after competing at Paradise.
“I learned a lot of new things about the way they coach here,” Williams said. “Technique, the way they teach things.”
Despite a great visit to Miami this weekend, Williams says he maintains his Oregon commitment.
“I’m still committed, I’m solid,” Williams said.
Although his commitment to the Ducks is still intact, Williams says that won’t stop him from continuing to take visits so he can be 100% sure of his decision.
“I’m going to take some more visits, but I don’t know where yet,” Williams said before adding, “I’m going to come back to Miami for an official. I’ll be taking my officials during the season.”
After his visits, Williams says he anticipates making a final decision in December, but that it’s not set in stone yet.
“I’m planning on signing early, but it’s not set yet, so I don’t want to put it out there and then I don’t (sign early),” Williams said. “I’m more focused on graduating, getting to college, and playing early.”
UM did not run combine testing at Paradise, but Williams most recently recorded a 4.52 40 time, a 4.25 shuttle, and a 36.20 vertical leap at the Opening Orlando regional in February.
