Mark Richt announces he knows who will start at QB vs UNC

MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: Malik Rosier #12 walks to the sidelines as head coach Mark Richt speaks with N'Kosi Perry #5 of the Miami Hurricanes in the fourth quarter against the Florida International Golden Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: Malik Rosier #12 walks to the sidelines as head coach Mark Richt speaks with N'Kosi Perry #5 of the Miami Hurricanes in the fourth quarter against the Florida International Golden Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Speaking to the media on Wednesday Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt said he knows who the starting quarterback will be on Thursday night against North Carolina.

As he has been during this short week Mark Richt was coy about who the starter will be. He didn’t say who he was starting only that he knew who the Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback will be when North Carolina visits Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday night.

Richt remained evasive as has he had been for the last four days and referred to his previous statement that the starter will be whoever gives Miami the best chance to win. Richt did not say any more than that. It would be shocking if N’Kosi Perry is not the starter on Thursday night.

Perry was sensational on Saturday after coming in in the third series against FIU. He completed his first ten passes and finished 17 of 25 for 224 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also added 32 rushing yards on nine carries.

Mark Richt continued to toy with the media on Wednesday about who the starter would be. The Hurricanes Head Coach was directly asked if he was going to start Perry or Malik Rosier during the ACC’s weekly teleconference.

"“That’s a good question…We’ll know when we roll out on the field, first play, for sure. So that’s what I’m going to tell everybody. But yeah, I know…It’s like any other position…I always tell the players you have to earn the right to win and you have to earn the trust of the coaching staff and your teammates to get in the game…[Perry] has grown up in my opinion to the point where he knows what we’re doing [and] why we’re doing it…How I gauge it in my heart to say, ‘What is the best thing for us to do right now?"

Rosier has played in all four games this season, Perry two of the last three after being suspended for the opener. On the season Perry has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 317 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Rosier has completed 52.1 percent of his passes for 611 yards five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Perry has 25 yards rushing and a 175.5 quarterback rating. Rosier has five rushing touchdowns and a 139.5 quarterback rating. After last Saturday’s performance, it’s clear that Perry should be the starting quarterback. The media knows it, the fans know it and North Carolina knows it.

When the Hurricanes take the field at 8 PM on Thursday night you can practically guarantee it will be Perry. It doesn’t do Richt or the Miami team and program any good in the present or future to start Rosier. If he truly wanted Rosier as the starting quarterback he should have and likely would have stuck with him as the starter.

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