Miami Quarterback Race Won’t Be Decided Until Summer
The Miami Hurricanes Quarterback race won’t be decided until fall. In an extensive post on ESPN.Com Miami Head Coach Mark Richt said that his program is eagely awaiting the arrival of prized freshman N’Kosi Perry
The return of 15 starters has raised expectations in Coral Gables following a 9-4 season. The biggest concern for the Miami fan base is who is going to replace their program’s all-time leading passer Brad Kaaya.
Talking to ESPN about the upcoming season Richt said: “We don’t even know who our quarterback is going to be yet.”
Perry is the 14th ranked Quarterback in the class of 2017 according to 247Sports composite rankings and 193rd ranked player overall.
Reports are that Sophomore to be Evan Shirreffs and rising Junior Malik Rosier have separated themselves from the pack in the Quarterback race. Despite that, Richt was never going to make a decision on Kaaya’s replacement until Perry arrives on campus to show if he’s ready to be the successor.
Richt knows what Shirreffs and Rosier can do on the practice field. Perry will get his chance this summer to show what he can do. His physical talents exceed what Rosier and Shirreffs can do. The determining factor will likely be how quickly Perry can pick up Richt’s offense. Richt told ESPN:
"“He may pick everything up and be a natural and be the guy, or he might not be ready for this moment yet and maybe we can get him in here and there, maybe he has to redshirt,” Richt said. “I wish he would have been here this spring, because I’d know a lot more about the quarterbacks.”"
Perry’s talent is evident and Richt doesn’t hesitate to talk about his prized signee.
"“(He’s) Super athletic. He has tremendous arm talent. There’s passers and there’s throwers. He’s got nice touch, but if he has to zing it, he can zing it as good as anybody. He’s got arm talent, and in high school people had a hard time tackling the guy.”"
Perry’s strength and weight is a concern. He’s 6’3 175 pounds. Perry was told to put on weight before he arrives on campus this summer. According to ESPN Perry is currently up to 180 pounds.
Richt discussed what it is going to take for Perry to earn the starting job.
"“Can you put in enough offense for him without him getting confused or rattled?…We hope to go at a pace that he can figure it out enough to compete, because the first competition is learning what to do. If you don’t know what to do, it’s hard to compete. You’ll make mistakes, you can’t run the system. Because you’re an athlete doesn’t mean you can ad lib all day and make something happen. You can probably do that more in high school than in college. Can he learn enough to function and play winning football for us? I don’t know. We’ll find out.”"
All of Miami’s Quarterbacks’ will get a chance to show what they can do in Saturday’s final scrimmage. The play has been shaky at QB in the first two scrimmages.
Sheriffs has emerged as the co-leader at QB with Rosier despite Miami being the only Power Five school to offer the unranked recruit a scholarship coming out of high school. Sheriffs commented on his recruitment:
"“I waited, and I got the call they had a spot for me,” Shirreffs said. “They didn’t even ask if I wanted to come. They sent the paperwork, I signed it and faxed it back. Now here I am.”"
Sheriffs was recruited by Miami’s previous staff under Al Golden. The irony is that he grew up about 20 minutes from the University of Georgia. His high school ran an offense based on Richt’s when he coached the Bulldogs.
Richt has been impressed by Sheriffs’ toughness in the pocket.
"“He’ll stand in there, throw the strikes under duress, he can get hit in the mouth pop back up and go play the next play and not be shook. He showed me a lot,” Richt said."
Rosier is the only Quarterback Miami will have in 2017 that has received any gameday experience. He mopped up in three games last year and played extensively in a pair of games in 2015. Rosier talked about what he needs to prove to his teammates.
"“These guys know I can win, but now [I need to] show them I can win every day…That’s the biggest thing is showing them I can lead.”"
Richt clarified where the Hurricanes who might win the Quarterback race.
"“I don’t know if N’Kosi is ready or will be ready and I’m not saying he’s going to be the guy, either…One of them other guys gets in there and plays lights out, N’Kosi probably has to lift weights for two years and compete when his day comes.”"
Next: Miami Hurricanes Finish their Final Spring Practice
Saturday’s final scrimmage should give us a bit more of an idea just how far Shirrefs and Rosier have separated themselves from the pack. After that we wait until Perry’s arrival this summer to see if he is ready to assume the starting role or if he needs more work.