Former Miami Hurricanes QB Evan Sherrifs eligible at three ACC Schools
Following a ruling by the unaffiliated Miami appeals committee former Miami Hurricanes quarterback, Evan Sheriffs is now eligible to transfer to ACC schools Duke, North Carolina and Virginia.
All three of those schools are in the Coastal Division. The Miami Hurricanes are the defending Coastal Division champions. The ruling was made because the Blue Devils, Tar Heels and Cavaliers all have top 25 MBA programs according to US News and World Report. Duke is 12th, Virginia 14th and UNC 18th in the rankings.
Miami swept all three schools this past year. Duke returns rising Junior Daniel Jones at quarterback and the Tar Heels bring back rising Sophomore Chazz Surratt at QB. Virginia loses two-year starter Kurt Benkert at Quarterback. Benkert burned the Hurricanes for four touchdown passes in a loss last season.
If Sherrifs winds up in Charlottesville he could challenge rising Sophomore Lindell Stone for the starting job. Miami plays at Virginia October 13. Stone threw only nine passes last season.
Sheriffs is expected to graduate in May with a degree in Business Finance. He would thus be eligible to play this fall as a graduate transfer. Sheriffs is seeking a school with a top MBA program to continue his education and football ability. He currently has a 3.9 Grade Point Average.
His decision to transfer clearly has as much to do with playing time as it does finding a top MBA program. Miami’s MBA program is ranked 57th nationally.
The Miami Athletic Department has kept the same stance throughout Sheriffs intent to transfer. They did not want to make an exception for one athlete to open the door to more athletes to follow in Sheriffs footsteps.
Miami Athletic Director Blake James spoke to CBSSports Dennis Dodd earlier this week about Sheriffs and UM Athletic Department policy.
"“You have 114 other guys on that team who have put in the work and made a commitment,” James said told Dodd a couple of weeks ago, “and you have someone that’s going to leave with the entire playbook and go to a team you’re going to play. To me, I struggle with that as well.”"
Sheriffs responded to James statement and claimed that his stance is hypocritical and unfair.
"“I don’t believe it is fair. I enjoyed my time at the University of Miami and I loved it. But I’ve completed all my academic requirements. I should be able to play wherever I choose to better myself athletically and academically. I had no prior knowledge I would be blocked…“I knew they could block regular transfers, but not graduate transfers. I’d say that, ‘Yeah, in legal terms it’s a non-compete [clause]. I never signed a non-compete.”"
Sheriffs was only somewhat of a factor at Miami this past season. He completed two of seven passes for 26 yards this season. It was the only playing time of his Hurricanes career.
He came on in relief of starter Malik Rosier three times. He came in in the season-opening blowout of Bethune-Cookman, played in one series in relief of a temporarily injured started Malik Rosier against North Carolina and an injured Rosier for a series against Pittsburgh.
Next: Miami Hurricanes laying groundwork for CFB Playoff
Sheriffs decision to transfer was almost assuredly based in part on Rosier returning for his Senior season and the likelihood that he would be passed on the depth chart by redshirt Freshman N’Kosi Perry and true Freshman Jarren Williams.