Nothing was official in the hours before Indiana and Miami met for the College Football Playoff championship at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Monday night, but a report from the Miami Herald indicated the possibility that back-up Hurricanes quarterback Emory Williams would transfer to East Carolina.

Georgia transfer Carson Beck will complete his eligibility for Miami with the title game. The Canes are likely the destination for former Duke and Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah.

With Miami looking elsewhere, Williams may have realized the opportunity that the Pirates presented. ECU had already attracted wide receiver Ray Ray Joseph from Miami.

As a redshirt sophomore this season, Williams saw action in five games. He connected on 13 of 19 passes for 156 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He had a longest completion of 25 yards with an average of 12 yards per completion.

Quarterback room

New offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jordan Davis will have an intriguing group to work with if Williams becomes a Pirate.

Williams was a four-star recruit by ESPN and three-star by 247 Sports. He is a pocket passer. He made two starts as a true freshman in 2023, including a 28-20 double-overtime win over Clemson. He completed 44 of 71 for 470 yards with three TDs and one pick for the year.

His playing time diminished in 2024. He played in two games, completing 16 of 26 for 187 yards with one TD and one interception.

The Pirates have already signed one back-up quarterback from a CFP team, Mitch Griffis from Texas Tech. Griffis completed 26 of 36 for 357 yards with two TDs and no interceptions in 2025. He played four seasons at Wake Forest, making nine starts in 2023.

Comparable start

When John David Baker became the offensive coordinator after the 2023 season, he brought in quarterbacks Jake Garcia, who had been at Miami and Missouri, as well as Katin Houser from Michigan State.

If reports on Williams are accurate, Davis is off to a comparable start at ECU in terms of the potential of incoming talent.

Garcia started initially in 2024. Houser’s emergence coincided roughly with the transition of Blake Harrell to head coach. ECU was 13-5 over two seasons with Houser as starter.

Houser’s payday

Internet estimates have Houser’s deal at Illinois valued at $2.5 million. The Illini apparently outbid Arkansas and Houser will take a second shot at the Big Ten (now 18 teams).

The consensus, not confirmed, is that ECU was prepared to pay him around $1 million to remain.

Mensah’s pending deal

Mensah reportedly had a contract with Duke in excess of $8 million over two years.

He is projected to make $6-8 million for 2026 at Miami.

The Blue Devils got their money’s worth from Mensah with a 27-20 win over Virginia in overtime for the ACC championship and a dramatic 42-39 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Sun Bowl.

Blue Devils scrambling

The timing of Mensah’s exit as the portal was closing was not good for Duke. The Blue Devils do not have an experienced quarterback in the program.

Duke reportedly made a bid for Florida transfer D.J. Lagway, who has now signed with Baylor.

New starting QBs

ECU and Alabama will both have new starting quarterbacks for the season opener in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 5.

The Pirates have some possibilities developing. The Crimson Tide will be without Ty Simpson, who has decided to head for the NFL.

Alabama played Austin Mack in the Rose Bowl after Simpson left a 38-3 loss to the Hoosiers. Mack completed 11 of 16 for 103 yards with no TDs and no picks in the Tide’s season finale.