The CaneSport 30 for 30: Ranking top 30 Canes with 30 or more reps of experience … No. 24 Emory Williams

We are ranking the top Miami Hurricanes players with 30 or more reps of college experience and seeing how they stack up.

Dec. 31 we broke down our overview of the series, and today we are at No. 24 on the list, QB Emory Williams. Also note the following players on Miami’s roster that didn’t make our Top 30 that do have 30 or more reps of college experience per Pro Football Focus: Ryan Rodriguez (123 reps this year), Jacurri Brown (66 reps), Luis Cristobal, Jr. (66 reps), Jayden Wayne (135 reps), Ahmad Moten (146 reps), Jaden Harris (130 reps) and Jared Harrison-Hunte (505 reps).

NO. 30 SAMSON OKUNLOLA, NO. 29 MARKEITH WILLIAMS, NO. 28 JOSHUA HORTON, NO. 27 SAVION RILEY, NO. 26 AJAY ALLEN, NO. 25 RILEY WILLIAMS

Without further ado, here’s No. 24 on the list (CaneSport will unveil 1 a day over the next month with a closer look at each):

MIAMI QB EMORY WILLIAMS

Analyzing past performance: Williams arrived at Miami as an underrated 3-star out of Milton, Fla., and he emerged as the backup to Tyler Van Dyke with Jacurri Brown redshirting. Williams got his chance to start against Clemson with Van Dyke out injured, and the Canes won with Williams perhaps not taking a lot of downfield chances but avoiding mistakes and finishing with 24 of 33 completions for 151 yards with a TD (in the fourth quarter, pulling Miami within three points) and interception. Williams then started over Van Dyke against Florida State and suffered a season-ending broken arm at the end of the game with Miami trying to drive for a tying touchdown. Williams ended that game hitting on just eight of 23 passes, but he wasn’t intercepted and threw two touchdowns including an 85-yarder that was perfectly placed down the right sideline to Jacolby George with 8:22 to play that pulled the Canes within seven points. So he had some very bright moments considering he was just a true freshman. He graded out at a pedestrian 66.8 percent this year per Pro Football Focus in his 181 reps, and he only attempts 10 passes of 20 or more yards (completing three for 132 yards with a TD and interception). Forty-three of his 71 attempts were within nine yards of the line of scrimmage. So yes, it was a conservative approach, as you would expect with a true freshman.

Why he might star in 2024: Because he should have a big jump up in his growth from Year 1 to Year 2, especially given he started in two of Miami’s toughest – if not the toughest – games of the year. That experience is invaluable, and he remained poised in those games. Williams perhaps didn’t prove he can really move the team downfield consistently behind his arm, and he’s not the most mobile guy, but you can argue he has a bit of that “it” factor. The potential is certainly there.

Why he might struggle in 2024: Because he’s coming off a compound fracture of his left arm and how much work he can get in the spring is a question mark, as is if it will hold back his development at all. Then there’s also the fact that a portal QB is the likely starter, so Williams might not get as much of a chance to show what he can do in 2024. Jacurri Brown’s return also means that if Williams does struggle that he might not even be the No. 2 quarterback for the coming season.

CaneSport’s projection: Miami is not planning to count on Williams as “the guy” at quarterback, and there’s reason for that as certainly he can use another year to develop in the background. While Williams already showed that he understands how to run the offense and can make plays when called upon, he’s on this list at No. 24 more for his potential than the expectation he will be the guy leading the Canes’ offense in Game 1 behind center.

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