Riley Williams who was projected to be the Miami starting tight end in 2025 is surprisingly entering the transfer portal per multiple reports. Williams had 15 receptions for 187 yards and one touchdown in two seasons with Miami. The Hurricanes signed Williams in the 2023 class.
Williams would have been the most experienced TE on the 2025 Miami roster. Miami is expected to lose redshirt junior Elijah Arroyo to the 2025 NFL Draft. Cam McCormick will complete his college eligibility in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 28 versus Iowa State in Orlando.
Miami returns redshirt freshman Jackson Carver and freshman Elija Lofton at TE entering the 2025 season. Lofton would be the projected starting TE for Miami in 2025 with Williams transferring. Miami signed four-star TEs Luka Gilbert and Brock Schott in the 2025 class.
Williams' playing time dropped significantly in 2024. Per David Lake of Inside the U, Williams played 316 snaps in 2023 and 184 during the 2024 season. According to Lake, Williams received a 63.4 receiving grade and a 58.0 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus.
Miami sophomore tight end Riley Williams is expected to enter the transfer portal, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 20, 2024
6-6, 240-pound former top recruit who had seven catches this season.https://t.co/o80ZJPdxnm pic.twitter.com/NnfcKB1Zgi
Williams was the 109th signee, fourth TE and 27th player in Florida out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida in the 2023 class. With Arroyo recovering from an injury in 2023, Williams tied McCormick for the Miami lead among TEs with eight receptions, led the Hurricanes TEs with 72 receiving yards and scored the only TD.
Williams had seven receptions for 115 yards without a score in 2024. Miami could pursue a transfer TE for its 2025 roster to add depth. Lofton had eight receptions for 133 yards and one TD in 2024. Lofton is a versatile player who also received one carry for two yards and another score in 2024.
Williams is the eighth Miami player to enter the 2025 transfer portal. Other than Isaiah Horton who was projected as the top returning wide receiver for Miami in 2025, Williams is the most significant Hurricane to enter the transfer portal.