The Miami football program dismissed safety Avantae Williams on Thursday hours after he was arrested for domestic violence on his pregnant ex-girlfriend. Williams was originally suspended indefinitely on Thursday morning. The argument occurred after Williams asked her to pack her things and move out of their apartment.
An ESPN report stated Williams and the ex-girlfriend had been living together for four months. The dismissal of Williams occurs before he ever played a down for Miami. Williams surprisingly signed with Miami in the Class of 2020 when nearly every projection predicted he would sign with Florida.
Williams sat out the 2020 season due to an undisclosed medical condition. Safety is the deepest position in the Miami football program. The Hurricanes return Bubba Bolden, Amari Carter and Gurvan Hall in 2021. Bolden, Carter and Hall all have extensive experience starting during their Hurricanes careers.
Miami also returns second-year safeties Brian Balom and Keshawn Washington and has elite 2021 signees James Williams and Kamron Kinchens at the position. Bolden and Hall are projected as starters in 2021. Carter is expected to have snaps at safety and striker. James Williams was a five-star 2021 signee expected to be a future star.
BREAKING: UM safety Avantae Williams has been dismissed from the Miami Hurricanes football team. Will update story now.
— Susan Miller Degnan (@smillerdegnan) July 22, 2021
Avantae Williams was charged with felony battery arrest according to the Miami Herald. The Herald published the video of Williams in court on Thursday morning. The ESPN report stated, “Police said Williams was not interviewed by the detective and was represented by legal counsel.”
According to the police report via the Herald, Williams threw his ex-girlfriend on their bed, pulled her hair twice and threw her out of the apartment. Information emerged from the Herald that a Miami-Dade judge issued a “stay-away” order for Williams from the ex-girlfriend against her wishes.
Avantae and James Williams who are not related gave Miami one of the top two safeties in back-to-back classes according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. Bolden is expected to be one of the leaders of the Miami defense in 2021. Bolden appeared as one of three Miami player representatives at ACC Kickoff on Wednesday.