The 2024 college football season saw some promising players sidelined by off-field legal issues. A tough reality for both the athletes and the fans. Out of all, the Georgia Bulldogs lost a lot of players who were charged with various incidents related to misdemeanor conduct. The 2024 season has been a dark chapter for Kirby Smart’s squad. You name them—Daniel Harris, Smael Mondon, Bo Hughley, RaRa Thomas—they all have been cuffed for the chargeable offense. This year too, their wide receiver, Nitro Tuggle, has been arrested for speeding charges. But no, this time it’s not Georgia. It’s Mario Cristobal’s Miami whose name got dragged into the spotlight.

One of their alumnus, 24-year-old former 4-star defensive back, was arrested early Saturday morning, May 3rd. The charges? Second-degree murder. Well, this is not the first time that the player landed in legal hoopla. However, when it came to his athletic talents, Miami had no regrets. Avantae Williams is now reportedly arrested in connection with the fatal shooting at McCabe’s Bar on May 3rd.

Williams was booked into the Volusia County Jail on May 5, charged with second-degree murder by use of a firearm. The DeLand police came with a statement. It reads, “Detectives still continue to collect evidence and conduct interviews with people concerning the facts and the circumstances of this shooting incident.” So, what exactly happened on the fateful night?

Going by the witnesses’ inputs, around 1:30 a.m., a fistfight broke out between several men inside McCabe’s, 225 N. Amelia Ave. That’s when a man, who is later on suspected to be Williams, pulled out a gun and started shooting. 

In the attack, the 32-year-old resident of DeLand, Keshod Harris, was struck multiple times in the chest and transported from the bar to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. Unfortunately, he was not the only one who got injured. A second man, a bartender, sustained gunshot wounds to both of his hands and was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

For now, the investigation is still ongoing, with around 40 witnesses believed to have been inside the bar when shots were fired. From celebrated talent to facing legal trouble and being held without bond, the narrative around Williams has taken a stark turn.

A promising start for Avantae Williams got derailed by unforeseen setbacks 

Out of DeLand (Florida) High School, Williams was a top-50 recruit in the Class of 2020. He was committed to Oregon and was expected to land in Florida. However, Williams stunned the college football world when he instead chose Miami on National Signing Day. Then again, the universe had other plans. The safety missed the 2020 season due to unspecified medical issues. So much so that he was almost on the verge of getting dismissed in 2021. However, Williams returned before the start of the season after battery charges were dropped.

And that was the beginning of Williams’ Hurricanes chapter that continued through the 2022 season. The true freshman saw action in six games and made one start in his debut collegiate season. Totaled 18 tackles (15 solo) with one interception and made career debut in win over NC State. He posted a career-best seven tackles (all solo) at Florida State. His first highlight-reel moment as a Miami Hurricane came against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. What happened in that game?

Avantae Williams reached his arms over Kyric McGowan’s right shoulder and plucked the ball away from the Georgia Tech wide receiver for a spectacular takeaway at Hard Rock Stadium. But at the same time, back in 2021, he was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated battery on his pregnant ex-girlfriend and pleaded not guilty. Following the alleged incident, Miami’s Manny Diaz quickly dismissed Williams. After a move to Maryland and limited playing time led him back to the transfer portal, the big question now is, what will be the consequences this time around?