Central Catholic coach Steve Pyne reacts to Riley Williams’ decision to transfer to IMG Academy in Florida: ‘Riley is a once-in-a-generation player’

“I’m disappointed for our program. I like Riley a lot. He’s a helluva player.”

By René Ferrán | Photo by Ken Waz  

Tight end Riley Williams, a rising senior who was the consensus No. 1 recruit in Oregon, announced this week that he will transfer from Central Catholic to IMG Academy in Florida. 

Williams called Rams coach Steve Pyne on Tuesday night to inform him of his decision, which he then posted to his Twitter account Wednesday.

Riley Williams on Twitter: "To all my coaches and teammates I want to thank you guys for these past few years. To my teachers thank you for making me a better student. This decision is something I think is best for my future. With that being said I’d like to announce I’ll be enrolling into IMG this summer.” 

To all my coaches and teammates I want to thank you guys for these past few years. To my teachers thank you for making me a better student. This decision is something I think is best for my future. With that being said I’d like to announce I’ll be enrolling into IMG this summer. pic.twitter.com/Pm82aaNPmM

— Riley Williams (@ri_will_) June 22, 2022

“He’d been considering it for about a month but hadn’t told me about it until then,” Pyne said. “I’m disappointed for our program. I like Riley a lot. He’s a helluva player.”

Pyne said he understood Williams’ reasons for transferring to IMG Academy, one of the nation’s top prep programs. After finishing his high school season, Williams plans to graduate in December and enroll early at whichever college he chooses — he whittled his choices to Alabama, Ohio State and Miami last week.

Pyne said the top in-house candidates to replace Williams in the lineup this fall for the defending Class 6A state champions include juniors Grover Melo and Jeremiah Katsuta and senior Solomon McDaniel.

However, none brings the big-time playmaking capability that Williams, a first-team all-state selection, provided. He caught 36 passes for 890 yards (24.7 per catch) and a team-high 14 touchdowns as a junior.

None of the three replacement candidates caught a pass for the varsity last season.

“Riley is a once-in-a-generation player in our state,” Pyne said. “You can’t replace his production, but can we spread it out like we would have in a normal year? I mean, we won’t be bad without him out there. We’ll be OK.”

With Williams no longer considered an in-state recruit, the top prospect on 247Sports’ Class of 2023 composite rankings is West Albany WR/CB Demarcus Houston, who will play in the Les Schwab Bowl next week.

The Top247 rankings have Sheldon DE Teitum Tuioti, a transfer from Lincoln, Neb., who joined his father, Tony (the University of Oregon’s defensive line coach), in Eugene for his senior season.