The biggest question heading into the 2017 season for the Miami Hurricanes is who will succeed Brad Kaaya at quarterback. The battle will almost definitely likely come down to three players.
Malik Rosier who is heading into his Junior season with the Miami Hurricanes was Kaaya’s backup the past two seasons. Evan Sheriffs doesn’t have the skill set that Rosier has, but seems to have the best grasp of the offense. He is the longest shot of the three. Freshman N’Kosi Perry is the fan favorite and seems to have the largest upside.
The Bleacher Report examined what they referred to as “The Top College Football QB Battles to Watch in Fall Camp”
The Bleacher Report breaks down the candidates below.
"The CandidatesMalik Rosier, Junior (31-61, 370 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT over last two seasons)Evan Shirreffs, Redshirt Sophomore (DNP in 2016)N’Kosi Perry, True Freshman"
The Majority of Rosier’s stats came in back-to-back games against Clemson and Duke in 2015. The Hurricanes suffered the worst loss in school history in a 58-0 beating by the Tigers. Kaaya was knocked out with a concussion against Clemson and did not play the following week.
Rosier led the Hurricanes to one of the most famous victories in school history. He went 20-29 for 272 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Miami’s Miracle in Durham victory at Duke.
The Bleacher report tried to read through the coach speak this spring.
"The Frontrunner: No one?Interested parties tried to read the tea leaves all spring. Whether the coaching staff mentioned Malik Rosier more often than Evan Shirreffs (or vice versa) after a practice was interpreted as a sign of which way the decision-makers were leaning. But if you think there’s a clear favorite in this race, you’re only fooling yourself."
Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt discussed his quarterback situation in the spring.
"“If I had to say how I’d peck them right now, it would be just like I’ve got them going into this spring game,” head coach Mark Richt said after Miami’s scrimmage in April, per Christopher Stock of 247Sports. “Kind of a co-No. 1 thing and the rest are co-No. 3 just fighting for that No. 3 spot.”"
A lot of the anticipation in the spring was merely biding time until Perry enrolled in May. Many of the college football prognosticators on a national basis and those that follow the Miami Hurricanes more closely have predicted that he will earn the job this summer. Bleacher Report’s take was:
"That was before N’Kosi Perry even arrived on campus, as the dual-threat star was not an early enrollee at the university. At this point, it might be a three-way co-No. 1 thing, though it’s going to be mighty difficult for Perry to win the job after less than three months with the program."
Many are wondering how soon Richt will name the starter? Will he want to give his signal caller some time before the opener to prepare and digest the responsibility of being the starter? Bleacher Report seems to think Richt will wait to kickoff week three to decide who Miami true number one quarterback will be.
"The Prediction: We won’t know Miami’s No. 1 QB until the first snap of the Week 3 game against Florida State (Sept. 16)"
Miami will have the opener against Bethune-Cookman and a week two trip to Arkansas State to work out the kinks at QB. Week three things get real in the ACC opener at Florida State. Bleacher Report’s take on Miami’s early season schedule:
"With all due respect to Bethune-Cookman, Miami’s season opener is essentially one last scrimmage in which Richt can try to figure out a hierarchy at quarterback. Even the Week two game against Arkansas State—which hasn’t defeated a Power Five team since August 2008—should be something of a warm-up to help determine which QB fares best in a road environment."
Their take on who the starting quarterback is is likely the longest shot of the three. Rosier seems to be primed to get the first shot. He has put in the time the last two seasons. Although he played poorly against Clemson, Rosier bounced back against a good Duke team in 2015. Showing he can lead a team to a win on the road was an important step even if it was two years ago.
If Rosier is not the starter the guess is that it’s because Perry’s talent was too great to deny. It would be a shock if one of those two isn’t under center at Hard Rock stadium for Miami’s first series on September 2. The Bleacher Report seems to like the long shot.
"“Forced to make a guess at this hour, I like Shirreffs’ chances of becoming Miami’s main man. But we’ll see how he handles his series in those first two games.”"
Next: Athlon Sports Picks Miami Hurricanes to go 10-2
Settling on the right quarterback could be the key to Miami’s season. Whoever it is will have a deep but mostly inexperienced receiving core to throw to. Mark Walton, Ahmmon Richards and Chris Herndon IV will figure prominently in the passing until the starting qb get comfortable.