The Fiesta Bowl Organization unveiled its 2026 preseason watch list for the Hispanic College Football Player of the Year award on August 26. For Miami Hurricanes fans, one name jumps immediately off the screen - and it belongs to the only player from their team on the entire list.
Redshirt junior defensive end Williams Jr. is one of 46 players nationally selected, making him the sole Miami representative on a watch list that spans every FBS conference.
This isn't just a decorative honor for the locker room wall. The watch list reflects the kind of breakout campaign Williams Jr. submitted in 2025, and the numbers were nothing short of dominant. Across 13 games, he piled up 9.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 53 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and 12 quarterback hurries. He led the ACC in sacks per game at 0.79, punctuating the season with a three-sack eruption against Florida State on October 25.
📊 9.5 sacks in 2025 - Led the ACC in sacks per game (0.79) and ranked among the nation's most disruptive edge rushers.
Here's what makes the recognition even more meaningful: the award measures excellence not just on the field, but in the classroom and the community, too. Williams Jr. checks every box. He carries a 3.78 GPA in business management and is a candidate for the William V. Campbell Trophy - widely known as the academic Heisman. This accolade signals that he's become the complete package: player, student, and leader.
The National Landscape
Landing among 46 names nationally puts Williams Jr. in rarified air. The watch list spans every FBS conference, mixing established stars with emerging prospects. For Miami, having its lone representative be the edge rusher who terrorized ACC offensive lines last fall should feel like a declaration.
The recognition also fuels a bigger conversation. Williams Jr. already appears on watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player) and the Lombardi Award (top lineman). He was also a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year preseason watch list in July. The Hispanic College Football Player of the Year honor isn't his only national buzz - it's another log on an already roaring fire.
| Category | Total | Rank/Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sacks | 9.5 | Led ACC (0.79/game) |
| Tackles for Loss | 14 | Team leader |
| Total Tackles | 53 | 13 games played |
| Forced Fumbles | 2 | Tied for team high |
| QB Hurries | 12 | Pressure machine |
| Season-High Sacks | 3 | vs. Florida State (Oct. 25) |
Why the 2026 Season Sets Up Perfectly for Williams Jr.
Watch lists are nice, but they aren't the trophy. Williams Jr. has the platform now to turn preseason buzz into a legitimate award run, and the schedule opens the door.
Miami starts the 2026 season on September 3 at home against Bethune-Cookman. That's a game where Williams Jr. can set the tone early, add to his stat line, and remind everyone why he's the No. 2 edge defender in the ACC and No. 6 nationally per preseason rankings. He's also been named a team captain for the season - a signal of his standing in the locker room.
But award seasons are defined in the big moments. Williams Jr. already proved he performs when the lights are brightest, delivering that three-sack performance against Florida State last October. The 2026 ACC slate brings more marquee matchups, and each one offers a chance to strengthen his case - not just for this award, but for the Nagurski, the Lombardi, and eventually a top spot in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Projections already favor him. Both ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Pro Football Focus have Williams Jr. pegged as a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. A dominant 2026 season would only solidify that projection - and perhaps push him higher.
📊 Projected first-round pick (2027 NFL Draft) - ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Pro Football Focus both have Williams Jr. as a top-32 selection based on his 2025 tape.
