With Kam Kinchens and James Williams off to NFL Draft, Canes nab safety from portal
With talented safeties Kam Kinchens and James Williams forgoing their final seasons to enter the NFL Draft, the Miami Hurricanes needed replacement help in a hurry.
On Saturday night, they got it when former Vanderbilt safety Savion Riley — with three seasons of remaining eligibility — committed to the Hurricanes.
“Committed #TheU,’’ Riley posted on the social media platform X.
Riley, listed in his Vanderbilt bio as 6-2 and 202 pounds, is from Acworth, Georgia and graduated from Kennesaw Mountain High.
He didn’t play as a freshman in 2022, but this season was fifth on the team with 48 tackles in eight games. His career-best 12 tackles came at Florida, and he had nine tackles — seven solo — at Wake Forest.
A three-star prospect out of high school, Riley was ranked by On3 as a top-60 safety nationally.
The Canes (7-5), who face Rutgers (6-6) on Dec. 28 in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, were left with safeties Markeith Williams (seven tackles in 2023), Jaden Harris (seven tackles), Kaleb Spencer (one tackle) and Brian Balom (three tackles).
Riley’s addition was the second in as many days for Miami, which got a commitment from NC State defensive tackle transfer C.J. Clark on Friday night.
The first day of the three-day early signing period is Wednesday.
This story was originally published December 16, 2023 at 6:33 PM.
