The addition of four-star safety Avantae Williams to the Category 20 Miami football signing class was largely due to the relationship that he has with head coach Manny Diaz and safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda.
The decision by four-star safety Avantae Williams to sign with the Miami football program shocked college football on National Signing Day. Williams was projected unanimously to sign with Florida by the 247Sports Crystal Ball. Williams signed with Miami because of his four-year relationship with Ephraim Banda and Manny Diaz.
The relationship with the Hurricanes current co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach and current head coach and former defensive coordinator dates to Banda and Diaz’s first few months under former head coach Mark Richt and his staff. There has been a lot of misinformation on social media that Willams signed because of Ed Reed.
Reed was hired last week to be the Chief of Staff for the Miami Football program under Diaz. The Chief of Staff is not allowed to do any off-campus recruiting or on-field coaching. Banda has done an exceptional job in the 2020 recruiting cycle. He finished 14th nationally in the recruiting rankings for coaches.
about landing the highest-rated player for the Miami football program in five years was evident in his press conference on National Signing Day. The Hurricanes head coach entering his second season mentioned that Williams just fits Miami and its a true Hurricane.
"“We’ve known Avantae since the summer coming out of eighth grade…This is a four-year relationship. I’ve got to give all the credit to Coach Banda, who never gave up on him, but there was just a feeling that Avantae was a Cane at heart. In recruiting, you just get to know these guys.There’s something about him that he just fit in here.”"
In an interview with Inside the U, Williams discussed the reasons he chose Miami and disputed the theory that Reed secured his decision to sign with Miami that has been floating around social media.
Ed Reed coached Avantae Williams at the Under Armour All-America Game last month. His thoughts on @SlowDownBoy7: pic.twitter.com/Yi7Gneyw7M
— David Wilson (@DBWilson2) February 5, 2020
"“He’s (Reed) not the reason, but he’s a great guy…It’s the guys that have been there. I’m going to Miami because of my relationship with those guys. Those are my boys man. I trust them. I think they are going to develop me the best, so that’s why I’m headed there.”"
The relationship that Williams has with Banda and Diaz is likely to be one of the oldest in the class of 2020 nationally. While he was overwhelmingly projected to sign with Florida, Dan Mullen and his staff have been with the Gators for only two years. Williams reiterated that he has known Diaz and Banda since eighth grade.
"“I was in eighth grade when I met Banda and all of them. So I just had a great relationship with them. Miami when I’m down there, I feel like I’m home. I’m comfortable. I feel like I can be my best there and I don’t know, I was just born to be a ‘Cane. I was born to be a ‘Cane so it is what it is.”"
Big get for Manny Diaz and #Miami beating UF for Avantae Williams, the nation’s No. 2 ranked safety, a Top 50 overall recruit.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 5, 2020
The way that Williams vibes with Diaz it what you would expect from the marquee player of a recruiting class. Williams also exemplified what a greater leader he is by his expectations about getting ready to get to work as soon as he arrives in Coral Gables and his thoughts on the Hurricanes defensive schemes.
"“He’s a great person. He just vibes. He my dog…Really I just want to learn the playbook. I want to get everything down pat and get my technique better and I want to get on the field as soon as possible…The opportunity to get an interception is great. They forcing the ball out quick and I have seen a lot of them boys get picks.Them boys aggressive.”"
Williams is part of what has been lauded as a special recruiting class for Miami. Fourteen players enrolled early compared to three in 2019. Williams is not one of them as a result of signing in February, but he stated he is not worried about the Hurricanes 6-7. Williams knows he is where he is supposed to be.
"“That’s college football. Everything is crazy. I don’t care about the record, I’m just ready to work. [Miami] is where my heart tells me I need to be, so that’s where I’m going to be at.”"
Williams made the decision to sign with Miami despite his cousin, former five-star running back Lorenzo Lingard transferring from Miami to Florida during the offseason. Williams told Inside the U that chose Miami without input from Lingard, saying that he is his own man. Williams is one of four safeties Miami signed for 2020.