Former Alabama QB Jalen Hurts to visit Miami football this weekend

Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts who entered his name into the transfer protocol earlier this week will be visiting the Miami football program this weekend according to ESPN and multi reports.

Jalen Hurts visited Maryland on Friday night by attending the Terrapins basketball game against Indiana. He will visit the Miami football program later in the weekend.

ESPN’s Alex Scarborough reported that Hurts plans on making a quick decision and enrolling for the Spring Semester. Hurts wants to be able to take part in Spring Practice.

CaneSport who initially reported Hurts plans to visit Miami stated in a later Tweet that Hurts is planning on visiting on Sunday. Hurts would provide the Hurricanes with a far more accurate quarterback than their only returning quarterback with experience, N’Kosi Perry will provide them for the upcoming season.

Perry completed 50.8 percent of his passes for 1,091 yards,13 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2017 as a Redshirt Freshman. Hurts completed 72.9  percent for 765 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He ran for another 167 yards and two touchdowns as the backup for Heisman Trophy runner-up Tua Tagovailoa.

Hurts was the starter his first two seasons at Alabama. In his collegiate career, Hurts has completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 5,626 yards, 48 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He has added another 1,976 and 23 touchdowns rushing.

The anemic Miami passing game has been well documented throughout the season and since the 35-3 loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Hurricanes finished 90th or below nationally in most passing categories this season.

Hurts does have his limitations. He was only 2-18 on balls thrown at least 20 yards downfield in 2017. Hurts flaws in the downfield passing game are what got him pulled from the National Championship game last season. He would still be a huge upgrade over Perry or the inexperienced Jarren Williams in 2019.

Hurts showed a lot of character this season by accepting his role as a backup. Alabama would not have won the SEC Championship without him. Hurts relieved an injured Tagovailoa in the second half and went 7-9 for 79 yards and two touchdowns. He also had five carries for 28 yards in an epic Alabama comeback.

Hiring Hurts former Quarterback Coach at Alabama Dan Enos as the Offensive Coordinator on Friday has to enhance the Miami Football program’s chance of getting Hurts as a transfer. The rumors about him joining Enos have been vast, from it’s a done deal to him considering Maryland and other programs.

Hurts decision is likely fluid. After this weekend he will probably evaluate the Terrapins where former Alabama Offensive Coordinator Mike Locksley was just hired as the Head Coach and Miami and weigh the pros and cons of each. Miami is far closer to success than Maryland is. The Terps are buried in the brutal Big Ten East.

The ACC Coastal Division is wide open next season. There is no reason with a revamped offensive coaching staff and the defensive coaching staff returning plus the addition of Blake Baker as Co-Defensive Coordinator that Miami doesn’t challenge for the division title in 2019.