Miami (FL) continues to feel the ripple effects of its National Championship game loss, particularly at the quarterback position. In the weeks since that defeat, the Hurricanes have now seen two quarterbacks depart the program, further thinning an already evolving depth chart.
Star quarterback Carson Beck has already moved on to the NFL, ending his Miami career at the top of the sport. Now, his primary backup is following him out the door. Top star, who spent the past three seasons with the Hurricanes, is heading to East Carolina after entering the College Football Transfer Portal.
Williams entered the portal shortly after Miami’s loss to Indiana and officially committed to East Carolina this week. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the move Wednesday, noting that Williams will arrive in Greenville with two years of eligibility remaining. The transfer gives East Carolina an experienced and physically imposing quarterback, while Miami loses another familiar face from its quarterback room.
A former three-star recruit, Williams originally signed with Miami in 2023, predating Beck’s arrival by two seasons. The 6-foot-5 passer has been a steady presence in the program, serving as a backup and developmental quarterback throughout his time in Coral Gables. During the 2024 season, Williams was the primary understudy to Cam Ward, who went on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Although Williams never fully seized the starting role, he remained a trusted option and a popular figure within the program.
As Miami reshapes its quarterback situation, the Hurricanes are also connected to one of the most closely watched transfer sagas in the country. Duke quarterback Darian Mensah has emerged as a potential high-profile target to replace Beck, but that pursuit has become complicated by an ongoing legal dispute.
Mensah, who transferred to Duke from Tulane, reportedly agreed to a two-year, $8 million NIL deal to lead the Blue Devils. After guiding Duke to an ACC championship, Mensah entered the transfer portal on January 16, just before the deadline. However, Duke has taken the position that Mensah remains under contract and has moved to enforce that agreement.
In a statement shared by Thamel, Duke made clear it intends to hold Mensah to his deal. The university emphasized that a court-issued temporary restraining order prevents Mensah from violating the contract, signaling that the situation could be resolved in court rather than on the recruiting trail. Despite Mensah’s portal entry, the dispute has cast doubt over whether he will be able to leave Durham at all.
With uncertainty surrounding Mensah, Duke has already begun preparing for life without him, with Walker Eget emerging as the leading internal candidate to take over under center. Meanwhile, Miami continues to monitor the situation closely as it looks to restock its quarterback room.
Mensah’s Duke squad captured the ACC title, while Miami represented the conference in the College Football Playoff, carrying league expectations deep into the postseason. Now, with both Beck and Williams gone, the Hurricanes face a pivotal offseason decision at quarterback. Whether through the portal or internal development, Miami must find answers quickly as it attempts to reload rather than rebuild heading into the next season.