Miami Hurricanes Redshirt Freshman backup quarterback N’Kosi Perry did not make the trip to Arlington, Texas with the football team. He has been suspended for the season opener against LSU.
The suspension is for the standard violation of team rules. Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt said that Perry will dress for the home opener next week against Savannah State and that he is good standing with the team going forward.
Perry’s suspension means that fellow Redshirt Freshman Cade Weldon will be the second team quarterback against LSU. If needed True Freshman Jarren Williams will be the third team quarterback.
Perry, Weldon and Williams have battled throughout the Spring, summer, in training camp and practice to earn the job as second-team quarterback behind starter Malik Rosier. Williams fell behind Perry and Weldon. There had not been a designation with Perry and Weldon on who the second team QB would be.
At least one if not two of the Hurricanes backups should get playing time in the home opener next week against Savannah State. The FCS Tigers lost their season opener 52-0 to UAB Thursday night. Savannah State was 3-8 last season. UAB was an astounding 8-5 last season after not fielding a team in 2015 and ’16.
It will be interesting to watch the situation going forward. There has been some speculation among the Miami Hurricanes fanbase that one or two of the backup quarterbacks could leave between now and the beginning of the 2019 season. Perry, Weldon and Williams are the only Miami quarterbacks on the roster for 2019.
In a statement released by the Miami Hurricanes Athletic Department and published in the Palm Beach Post, Richt reiterated that this is a one-game suspension and that Perry has seemed to put the unspecified problem behind him.
"“We took some disciplinary action with N’Kosi but he has since responded well and made some positive changes…He is in good standing going forward and we look forward to seeing him dress for our home opener, and through the rest of the season.”"
Perry seemed to have a slight edge over Weldon to be the second-team quarterback despite that Richt said that they would play Perry of Weldon depending on the matchup. Weldon was listed as the second-team quarterback and Perry third on the depth chart released for LSU.
It’s never good to speculate on what happened, but both Richt and his son Jon who is Miami’s Quarterbacks Coach have said that Perry tired during training camp and practice last month. Jon Richt also spoke to the Post last month about Perry.
"“During the summer I think he got a little tired at some point…it’s a long summer. It’s a grind non-stop for these guys…In the past two months, the dude has really turned it on and has done a great job focusing and is coming with a whole new attitude. He’s doing an awesome job for us right now.”"
The coaching staff seemed to be frustrated with Perry’s efforts or results at some point during the spring of the summer. The fact that Jon Richt said he had a whole new attitude spoke to something that both Richts had been disappointed in Perry from earlier this year.
The backup quarterbacks and what they show this season will be critical. Either Perry, Weldon or Williams will almost definitely be the starting quarterback when Miami opens the 2019 season against Florida in Orlando on August 31. The only exception would be if the Canes pursue a Graduate transfer at quarterback.