34 Days to Miami football: Charles Perry 2018 preview

Redshirt Freshman QB N’Kosi Perry has generated a lot of buzz since joining the Miami football team in July of 2017. He is not the only Perry on the Canes roster. Backup linebacker Charles Perry has been a contributor for the past three seasons as he enters his Senior year.

Perry has contributed to the Miami football team since playing nine games as a true Freshman in 2015. Although he has never started during his three seasons with the Hurricanes, Perry has contributed 29 total tackles, an interception and a forced fumble during his three seasons with Miami.

Perry was a highly sought-after recruit in the Class of 2015. He was a part of Al Golden’s last Miami recruiting class. Perry was the nation’s 396th ranked player, the 28th ranked athlete (he wasn’t slotted into a specific position) and 58th best player in the State of Florida in 2015.

Ranked as a four-star player by ESPN it would be fair to say he has not lived up to that billing in college. Perry was a star two way player at Royal Palm Beach High in West Palm Beach. His official bio on HurricaneSport.Com, the official Miami Hurricanes Athletic site highlighted his high school accomplishments.

"“Selected First Team All-County by the Sun-Sentinel after he tallied 60 tackles, four sacks and 849 yards rushing as a Senior.”"

Below is an interview that Matt Porter the former Miami Hurricanes beat writer with the Palm Beach post conducted with Perry and Manny Diaz this Spring.

Perry played in a career-high 12 games in 2016 with 12 tackles and the lone forced fumble of his career. Perry surpassed those numbers in 2017 despite missing the final four games of the season with an Achilles injury suffered against Notre Dame.

Those players who are still with the Hurricanes are entering their Senior or Redshirt Junior seasons. Several of those recruits are now in the NFL.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald interviewed Miami Outside Linebackers Coach Jonathan Patke earlier this month to discuss the progress his players have made in the offseason. Perry is slated to be a backup at Miami’s new striker position that Patke and Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz developed this Spring.

The striker will be a hybrid of a safety and strongside linebacker. Perry, Zach McCloud, Derrick Smith Jr., Romeo Finley and De’Andre Wilder are the players expected to work in at striker. Two-year starter McCloud will be the starter at striker.

Smith and Finley were previously safeties. Perry, McCloud and Wilder were linebackers.  Patke discussed Perry’s progress with Jackson.

"“He has been doing cutting drills…I told him he’s a leader in the room based off his age. He does everything I ask him to do. He came up in the UNC game and made a big interception we needed and finally started making some plays you know he can.”"

There doesn’t seem to be a firm date on when Perry will be completely rehabbed from the Achilles injury.  Perry and Mike Smith provide Miami with a lot of experienced depth in the linebacking core. Both are also expected to see time on special teams.

Having that experience will be important to the Hurricanes whose depth is primarily young. McCloud and the other starting linebackers Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney with Perry and Smith provide the Hurricanes with leadership and experience on defense.