Tag: Riley Williams

Alabama Morning Drive: ‘Super Conferences’ are the future of college football

Brace yourselves, more changes are coming to college football.

Good Friday morning, folks! Welcome back to another edition of Alabama Morning Drive. I hope everyone has enjoyed their work week as we head into a long holiday weekend.

Our lead story this morning shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of you who just lightly keeps up with the world of college football. It was announced on Thursday that USC and UCLA would be leaving the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten.

You may be asking yourself, what does this have to do with Alabama? Well, in actual reality, it has everything to do with Alabama. The landscape of college football is drastically changing, and rather quickly I might add. The transfer portal looks like a New York subway, NIL lacks clarity and accountability, and like it or not, major conference realignment is imminent.

Oklahoma and Texas are on their way to the SEC in a couple of years and now with the announcement of USC and UCLA on the move, the future of many conferences is looking bleak. It is only a matter of time before “Super Conferences” become a very real thing in college football.

What that looks like exactly is a little unclear, but I imagine, in less than 10 years, there will most likely just be two major conferences in college football with the SEC and the Big Ten leading the way.

Obviously, this is all still speculation but the writing is on the wall and change is on the way.

Let’s take a quick look at a few other stories to follow this morning.

No. 1 ranked player in state of Oregon drops Ducks from list of final schools

4-star TE Riley Williams — the No. 1 player in Oregon — recently dropped the Ducks from his recruitment and canceled his official visit to Oregon.

In what was likely a surprising or downright shocking announcement for fans of the Oregon Ducks, Riley Williams, the No. 1 player in the state of Oregon, dropped his home-state team from his recruiting finalists on Tuesday.

Williams, who is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 2 tight end in the nation and No. 66 player overall in the 2023 class, cut his list of finalists to three. Alabama, Miami and Ohio State made the cut. Less than two weeks ago, Williams announced a top four, with the Ducks as the fourth team.

Even stranger, Williams was scheduled to take his official visit to Oregon this week, but he will not do so. It’s unclear what changed over the past couple of days. but it’s safe to say fans have a right to feel disappointed the Ducks will not be able to keep the No. 1 player in the state home.

Film

Riley Williams’ Recruiting Profile

No. 1 player in Oregon includes Ducks in his recent recruiting cut-down

Dan Lanning has emphasized the importance of keeping Oregon talent in-state. So far so good with the recruitment of Riley Williams.

One of the big things that new Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning has tried to emphasize early in his tenure in Eugene is the fact that they need to do everything they can to recruit their home state first. That means finding the best talent in Oregon, and not letting them go elsewhere.

Early returns are good, with Riley Williams, the No. 6-ranked tight end in the 2023 class, listing the Ducks in his top-8 this past week.

Williams, who stands at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, is the No. 96 overall player in the 2023 class, and No. 1 player in the state of Oregon. He plays for Central Catholic, in Portland, and has made visits to Eugene before.

Riley Williams’ Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 4 0.9556 OR TE
Rivals 4 5.8 OR TE
ESPN 4 86 OR TE
On3 Recruiting 4 93.05 OR TE
247 Composite 4 93 OR TE

Vitals

Hometown Portland, Oregon
Projected Position Tight End
Height 6-foot-6
Weight 230 pounds
Class 2023

Recruitment

  • Offered on February 23, 2021

Top-8

Film

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Michigan State football listed in top 8 for Oregon 4-star TE Riley Williams

Michigan State football is one of eight schools still in the running for an elite, top 100 recruit in the 2023 class

Michigan State football is one of eight schools still in the running for an elite, top 100 recruit in the 2023 class.

Four-star tight end prospect Riley Williams released his top schools’ list on Wednesday, with Michigan State remaining in contention. The Spartans were joined by Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, LSU, Ole Miss and Miami (FL).

Williams — who hails from Portland, Ore. — is ranked as the No. 96 overall prospect and No. 6 tight end in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the 2023 class. He’s also the top player from the state of Oregon.

Michigan State extended a scholarship offer to Williams in November of 2021. The Spartans are one of more than 20 schools to offer Williams.

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Michigan football makes top group for elite 2023 tight end

#Michigan has proven to be one of the best schools for tight ends! #GoBlue

Michigan football lost out on one 2023 tight end in former commit Andrew Rappleyea, who flipped to Penn State earlier in the week. But one area that the Wolverines have had little trouble recruiting is at that position.

Evidence of such? Yet another elite tight end put Michigan in his top group, despite the loaded room which features standouts like Erick All, Luke Schoonmaker, and up-and-comers like Matthew Hibner, Louis Hansen, and Colston Loveland.

On Wednesday, Portland (Ore.) Central Catholic four-star Riley Williams shared his top eight via Twitter, and the maize and blue made the cut, along with Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, Miami, LSU, Ole Miss, and Michigan State.

With 22 reported offers, Williams is rated the No. 73 prospect in the country according to 247Sports, regardless of position. He’s the fourth-best tight end and No. 1 player in the state of Oregon.

247Sports’ Brandon Huffman compares him to Bills standout Logan Thomas:

Williams has good speed, is strong at the line, does a great job sealing the edge in his blocks and runs really well. With a good running game and a shorter passing game, he’s not targeted as often as other tight ends, but when he is sent out, he is constantly getting open and shows off his quickness and range. Can also play off the edge as a defensive end/rush backer. At times, would be used in delayed blitzes, showing off his quickness and ability to close.

Williams got his Michigan offer on Dec. 17, 2021. He’s listed as 6-foot-6, 230-pounds.

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Oklahoma Sooners offer 2023 four-star tight end Riley Williams

Oklahoma offered class of 2023 four-star tight end Riley Williams. Here’s more on Williams.

Oklahoma and tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley extended an offer to class of 2023 four-star tight end Riley Williams from Central Catholic High School in Portland, Ore.

The 6-foot-6, 230 pound tight end also holds offers from the usual west coast suspects like Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Utah, Washington and Washington State. Williams has also drawn interest and offers from Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.

According to On3, Williams is the No. 32 player nationally in the 2023 class, the No. 2 tight end and the top player from the state of Oregon. 247Sports ranks Williams as the 69th-best prospect nationally, the No. 3 tight end and the top player from Oregon.

ESPN rates Williams as the No. 100 recruit overall, the No. 4 tight end and the top player from Oregon. Rivals lists Williams as the No. 10 tight end and the 211th player nationally.

In the On3 consensus rankings, Williams is the No. 85 player nationally and the No. 7 tight end. Meanwhile, in the 247Sports composite rankings, Williams rates as the No. 109 player overall and the No. 6 tight end.

Riley Williams’ Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
ESPN 4 100 1 4
Rivals 4 211 N/A 10
247Sports 4 69 1 3
247 Composite 4 109 1 6
On3 Recruiting 4 32 1 2
On3 Composite 4 85 1 7

Vitals

Hometown Portland, Ore.
Projected Position TE
Height 6-6
Weight 230

Recruitment

  • Offered on Feb. 14

Film

Here’s a look at Williams’ Hudl tape.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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Michigan State football offers 2023 4-star tight end Riley Williams

Michigan State football offers 2023 4-star tight end Riley Williams

On Thursday, 2023 4-star tight end Riley Williams announced that he has received an offer from Michigan State football. Williams is the No. 3 ranked tight end in his class and currently plays for Central Catholic High School in Portland, Oregon.

247Sports has Williams as the No. 71 best player in his class and the top player in the state of Oregon.

He currently has offers from Arizona State, California, Colorado, Florida State, Ohio State, Oregon, Oregon State, Tennessee, USC, Utah, Washington, and Georgia State.

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