Miami Hurricanes quarterback Malik Rosier has been named to a few watch lists for postseason awards. He was recently added to the lists for the Maxwell and Manning Awards.
Malik Rosier has succeeded Brad Kaaya adeptly as the Hurricanes quarterback this season. There were a lot of questions by the Miami Hurricanes fanbase who the starting quarterback should be. A Canes Warning Twitter Poll concluded 76 percent of the Miami fanbase wanted Freshman N’Kosi Perry as the starter at quarterback.
Malik Rosier has been the team MVP through the first six weeks of the season. He has completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 1,715 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.
In seven career starts he has never lost. Six of those starts are this season. He is the first Miami Hurricanes quarterback to begin his career 7-0 since Brock Berlin in 2004.
Rosier has also provided the Hurricanes a running threat from the quarterback position that they did not get from Kaaya. The Junior quarterback from Mobile, Alabama has run for 191 yards and 3.4 yards per carry. That includes the yardage from sacks.
The Maxwell Award has been given out since 1937. The Manning Award was first presented in 2004.
Rosier led the Hurricanes to last minute drives earlier this month to defeat Florida State for the first time since 2010 and Georgia Tech.
Asked about Rosier after it was announced earlier today that he was added to the Maxwell Award list Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt said:
"“Malik has for me, from the very first day I started working with him…’that he’s doing right now is pretty darned good.”"
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Rosier is averaging over 50 yards per game more in total offense than Kaaya did in 2016. Kaaya averaged 261 total yards per game last season. Rosier is averaging 317 yards per game this season.
His ability running the football has made a difference. He is averaging 31.8 rushing yards per game. Kaaya averaged over 10 yards lost in rushing yards per game.
He is second in the ACC in passing averaging 285 yards per game and third in the conference in total offense averaging nearly 318 yards per game.
Although he has been erratic at times this season, Rosier has proven to be an adept leader. He has bounced back in second halves after slow starts a few times.
His ability to forget about his poor starts and maintain the ability to keep his poise has been a big reason behind Miami’s comeback wins. The Hurricanes have won three games this season after trailing at halftime.
Rosier’s ability to take care of the ball is why he won the job. The 14 touchdown passes and three interceptions have proven that. He continues to keep throwing even with the poor starts.
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As Miami continues a run to try and make their first ACC Championship game, it’s clear Rosier is going to be the signal caller to do so.