Miami safety Kam Kinchens expected to enter NFL Draft. James Williams ‘weighing options’
The Miami Hurricanes are expecting third-year junior safeties Kamren Kinchens and James Williams to enter the NFL Draft, according to Miami Herald sources. However, Williams’ marketing agent said later Tuesday on social media that Williams hasn’t made a decision.
An agent who is speaking with first-team All-American Kinchens said that Kinchens has indicated he plans to turn pro. Kinchens is interviewing several agents this week as he seeks NFL representation.
As for Williams, 247Sports reported that he is expected to declare for the draft, and Herald sources said that Williams turning pro is the Hurricanes’ expectation as well. But Williams’ marketing agent Eric Dounn of LAA Sports & Entertainment, said late Tuesday morning on the social media platform X that “James Williams has not announced yet... He is weighing ALL options... Let’s wait to hear from him when he’s ready..’’
Staying for another season at UM and entering the transfer portal were among Williams’ options, one source said.
Kinchens is out of Miami Northwestern High and is projected by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. as the nation’s No. 1 safety for the draft that begins April 25.
Williams is out of Plantation American Heritage and is projected by Kiper as the No. 5 safety.
Kinchens, listed as 6-0 and 205 pounds, became the first University of Miami football player to have an All-America banner hung in a campus athletic facility during his playing career.
Williams, 6-5 and 215 pounds, is considered equally gifted with an elite physique and huge upside — if not always as disciplined or polished as Kinchens.
Both are close friends and team leaders.
Kinchens, quiet and understated, came to UM in 2021 as a four-star prospect and former Miami Herald Miami-Dade Defensive Player of the Year with nine interceptions his junior high school season to help lead the Bulls to a state championship. He will leave UM with a career 26 starts in 34 games, 162 tackles, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, 26 pass deflections, one sack, two defensive touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Kinchens is the first Hurricane since Sean Taylor to record more than 10 interceptions in a career. Taylor had 14 interceptions from 2001 through 2003. Ed Reed is the UM record-holder with 21 picks from 1998 through 2001.
This year, despite a horrendous scare when he was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center of Jackson Memorial Hospital after his head flung back on a ferocious tackle Sept. 9 against Texas A&M, Kinchens finished with 10 starts, 59 tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss, a sack, 10 pass deflections, five interceptions, one fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown.
“If they would [have let me],’’ Kinchens told reporters a few weeks later, “I’d have been out there for the Bethune-Cookman game [five days after Texas A&M]. I don’t like missing games. ...I pride myself on making sure I’m playing through whatever.’’
Pro Football Focus also has Kinchens as the No. 1 safety in the upcoming draft.
Williams, passionate, upbeat and outspoken, came to UM in 2021 as a five-star crown jewel rated the nation’s No. 1 safety. Former American Heritage head coach Patrick Surtain called him “one of the best football players I’ve ever seen in high school.’’
If he leaves, Williams will have started 29 of his 33 games and amassed 162 tackles (same number as Kinchens), two tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, 17 pass deflection and four interceptions.
“I know what the future holds for me and my body and how much I’m going to keep growing and keep getting better,’’ Williams said before the season, regarding expanding his repertoire to include some outside linebacker. “Now is the time to come to reality and realize what I have to do.’’
This story was originally published November 28, 2023 at 1:26 PM.
