Emory Williams, a 6-foot-5 quarterback, has officially made the move from Miami to East Carolina via the NCAA Transfer Portal. After spending three seasons with the Hurricanes — including time as a backup in 2024 and 2025 — Williams entered the portal following Miami’s narrow 27-21 loss in the national championship game, taking advantage of the extended portal window afforded to CFP participants.
Williams arrives in Greenville with two years of eligibility remaining, giving the Pirates a valuable veteran presence in their quarterback room. During his tenure at Miami, he appeared in 12 games, completed 73 of 116 passes for 813 yards and four touchdowns, and showed flashes of potential as a traditional pocket passer.
At Miami, his most memorable moments came early in his career. As a true freshman in 2023, Williams started two games — including a double-overtime victory against Clemson — before an arm injury cut his season short. He then backed up Cam Ward in 2024 and Carson Beck in 2025.
East Carolina sees Williams as a key piece in its offensive future. The Pirates will pair him with fellow transfer quarterback Mitch Griffis from Texas Tech in what promises to be an intriguing competition for the starting job heading into the upcoming season.
The transfer bolsters ECU’s roster following an impressive 9-4 campaign last season. Williams’ addition underscores the growing trend of high-impact portal transfers shaping FBS rosters across college football and adds experienced depth to the Pirates’ pursuit of sustained success under head coach Blake Harrell.
