Miami football staff convinces QB Jarren Williams to stay with Hurricanes

Mark Richt appears to have recruited his most significant player during the early signing period. News broke on Thursday evening that Redshirt Freshman quarterback Jarren Williams has decided to stay with the Miami football program.

Steve Wiltfong who is the National Director of Recruiting for 247Sports broke the original story about Williams intention to transfer and that the Miami Football Freshman Signal Caller has decided to stay in Coral Gables.

Williams’ father Anthony told Wiltfong that Jarren decided to stay at Miami after discussing his future with Richt and his son Jon, the Hurricanes Quarterbacks Coach. The Richts told the younger Williams that he will have an opportunity to compete for the starting job in 2019 and earn playing time.

Those were likely things that should have been clear for next season with Williams. Mark Richt has been pretty clear that the starting quarterback job is open for competition in 2019. Earlier this fall the Hurricanes Head Coach said that N’Kosi Perry has the advantage as the current starter to begin next season with the first team.

Perry and Williams will compete with Redshirt Freshman Cade Weldon during the Spring and next summer in training camp to be the starter. Williams strengths are known to be his accuracy, ability to read defenses and get through his reads quickly.

Numerous reports from the Miami football practices emerged on Thursday that Jon Richt was seen working with Williams during Hurricanes morning practice getting ready for next week’s Pinstripe Bowl. Anthony Williams detailed the conversation of his son’s conversation with the Richts.

"“They were talking to him yesterday and today about staying and competing through the spring. He felt as though he should had an opportunity to probably play more. He was frustrated by play time.”"

Wiltfong also reported that Jarren Williams spoke with Miami Athletic Director Blake James per the elder Williams. That seems unusual given that James said last month he doesn’t get involved with Richt’s decisions on his staff or who calls plays.

Wiltfong also spoke with 247’s Director of Scouting Barton Simmons about what makes Williams an elite quarterback and why he didn’t play much this season.

"“He excited us with what he did on the All-Star Circuit last year, particularly in terms of his accuracy and his competitive nature…I am surprised he wasn’t a starter at Miami, I expected him to win that job as a freshman, so I definitely think he has the ability to be a starter.”"

Convincing Williams to stay was vital to the future of the Miami Football roster over the next few seasons. Perry, Weldon and Williams are the only three quarterbacks on scholarship that will be on Miami’s 2019 roster unless the Hurricanes sign someone for next season.

The quarterbacks Miami were initially recruiting in the 2019 cycle have for the largely signed with other schools. The new early signing period for football now gives Richt a chance to re-evaluate and see if they can sign a quarterback for 2019. That’s more than likely to come via a Graduate Transfer or Junior College quarterback.