Miami football top 8 for number two 2023 safety Derek Williams

The Miami football program is one of eight finalists for Derek Williams the second-best safety in the 2023 class per the 247 Sports composite rankings. Miami is a finalist with Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas and Texas A&M for the New Iberia, Louisiana Westgate prospect.

Williams tweeted his eight finalists on Saturday. Alabama with an 88.7 percent chance to sign Williams is the prohibitive favorite per the On3 prediction machine. Miami was not listed with any projection to sign Williams. The Hurricanes have five players committed to their 2023 Class and only one on defense.

Williams is rated four stars, the 38th best player, second-highest safety and third in Louisiana in the 2023 Class in the 247 Sports composite rankings. Williams had an unofficial visit to Miami in April. Miami defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae was ranked as the second-best recruiter in the country in the 2022 recruiting cycle.

Addae is likely leading the recruitment of Williams. Williams spoke with On3 about his Miami recruitment. Prospects in the Class of 2023 have continually mentioned the change in the Miami football program since Cristobal was hired in December. Williams is the latest prospect to discuss the impact Cristobal has made with Miami.

"“I’ve always had an eye for Miami growing up as a young athlete I can’t lie. As I grew familiarity with their style of play my interest grew also. Coach Christobal (SIC) is a great guy and he’s in the works of developing a top notch program and I would love to be apart (SIC) of something like that.”"

With Cristobal as head coach, the profile of the Miami football program should be bigger. Cristobal is a high-profile head coach who will be noticed by prospects. Williams will be a difficult recruitment with Alabama heavily favored. Cristobal has already flipped 2022 four-star tight end, Jaleel Skinner, from Alabama to Miami.

Williams would be significantly the highest-ranked recruit in the 2023 Class. Four-star wide receiver Robby Washington is the 151st ranked player in the 2023 Class per the 2022 On3 consensus rankings. Miami currently has the 34th ranked 2023 class per On3. That should change in the next month.