Miami Hurricanes freshman QB Emory Williams progressing, excited about the Shannon Dawson offense
Quarterback U has three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, and their histories at Miami could not be more different. There is starter Tyler Van Dyke, who won ACC Rookie of the Year two seasons ago before faltering last year in a season shortened by injury. Then there is second-year QB Jacurri Brown, who proved his athleticism with big plays on the ground last year but not many in the air when he was called upon following Van Dyke’s injury. And the third QB is a true freshman, Emory Williams, who is still picking up the nuances of Shannon Dawson’s system.
Let’s not forget, as well, that it was Brown who entered last season as a true freshman third-teamer and got called into significant action and even started.
So yes, how Williams prepares and looks this fall could be very important depending how healthy Van Dyke remains and how well Brown progresses with some of the accuracy flaws he showed a year ago (and has since seemed to improve).
Williams’ perspective on it all?
For him it’s just about, well, him.
“You know, all I can do is focus on myself,” Williams told CaneSport. “Just getting those reps under my belt (this fall) is what I’m looking for.
“I’m still trying to learn. I had the summer to really digest the playbook, get my feet under me. I was just getting stronger, faster, understanding the plays, which really helped.”
Williams says he’s very comfortable with “a good 95 percent” of the Miami playbook.
“The routes and stuff I have down, I just have to do a better job of understanding the motion tags,” Williams said. “After that it’s 100 percent. Because the concepts – another great thing about this offense is it’s simple but effective. It’s easy to understand the way he teaches it.”
Williams arrived at Miami in January, and you saw flashes in the spring of what he could do – including a highlight 79-yard TD deep toss to Ray Ray Joseph that ended the Spring Game (Williams also was 4-4 for 42 yards on his first drive of that game).
As for his history?
Williams was perhaps a bit under-recruited out of high school given his ability level, landing 15 offers and picking Miami over USF. Don’t let that fool you. Renowned QB coach David Morris has worked with him (he’s also worked with the likes of Eli Manning, Daniel Jones, Davis Mills, Mac Jones, Sam Howell and Bo Nix, among others). Morris’ take on Williams: “He’s Joe Flacco to me in that he’s a big, strong, underappreciated athlete. He’s a good athlete, can do some RPO, but that’s not where he’ll be the ACC Player of the Year. He was underrated, didn’t start every game as a sophomore (due to a hamstring injury), had a good junior year but they weren’t the best team.”
Williams finished his senior year of high school with 2,102 passing yards, 21 TD passes, 4 INTs and 302 rushing yards with two scores on the ground despite his team’s 3-7 record. He completed 63 percent of his passes with analytics that showed 40 dropped passes. And his season included 290 passing yards in the team’s opening game against Andalusia (Ala.) High School, a team that went on to finish 14-1 and win the 4A state title.
So he has the arm talent and ability. It’s just about picking up the new offense and getting acclimated to a new level of play at Miami.
“Coach Dawson’s offense, he allows you to have freedom,” Williams said. “A look you like – check the play. He always loves getting us into a better play. I love the options. If something is not there, there’s always another option. You progress, progress, progress.”
*Of Van Dyke helping him learn the offense, Williams said, “He’s extremely helpful. I would not be where I’m at today if not for Tyler. He gives me tips after plays – `I saw this on this play, this read.’ Having the ability to hear what he says, where his mind is at, helps me understand where coach Dawson is, connect more. He’s been truly great.”
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