Miami football QB depth quickly upgraded by OC Dan Enos
When Miami Diaz was first hired to succeed Mark Richt as the Miami Football Head Coach one of his priorities was upgrading the quarterback position.
Heading into 2019 under Mark Richt the Miami football team returned only three scholarship quarterbacks on their roster. N’Kosi Perry was the only one who had thrown a pass against an FBS team. In the last week, Manny Diaz and newly hired Offensive Coordinator Dan Enos have upgraded their quarterbacks.
On Tuesday former Ohio State five-star quarterback Tate Martell announced he was transferring to Miami. His eligibility for 2019 remains in question. Transfers usually have to sit out a season before gaining eligibility at a new school.
Martell has the option of potentially graduating before next fall or petitioning the NCAA for a waiver to play in 2019. Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports wrote that Martell is going to use Ohio State’s coaching change as the reason he transferred. It seems like a longshot.
Martell transferred due to the Buckeyes getting former Georgia Quarterback Justin Fields. Fields left Athens because he was behind Jake Fromm at quarterback. Fields is also trying to get a waiver to play this fall at Ohio State instead of sitting out the 2019 season.
The Miami football programs’ Twitter account posted on Friday morning that Martell has officially arrived in Coral Gables. He could be the first of a few quarterbacks the Hurricanes add to Perry and backups Jarren Williams and Cade Weldon plus walkon Ryan Rizk.
Official: The Miami Martell has arrived. pic.twitter.com/231IG5foqH
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) January 18, 2019
Miami offered four-star dual threat quarterback Lance LeGendre from New Orleans on Wednesday night after Enos visited him. The Hurricanes are battling with Florida State, Tennessee, Kansas and Alabama among others to sign him. LeGendre is scheduled to take official visits to Tennessee, Miami and FSU by February 1.
Miami is also adding preferred walk-on Carson Proctor from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Proctor was at Arkansas under Enos before they both left Fayetteville. He did not get any playing time with the Razorbacks.
Proctor completed 47.8 percent of his passes for 1,117 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2018. He likely just another body to add to the Miami roster to build depth and help out on the scout and practice teams.
UM confirms he is enrolling at school. Will be preferred walk on. Didn't play in 2 years at Arkansas (when Dan Enos was there). Played at Coffeyville JC last season. He's a walk on. So at least 5 QBs on the team next year, perhaps a sixth coming. https://t.co/brqsFz9Ath
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 18, 2019
Even if LeGendre doesn’t sign with the Miami football program Diaz and Enos likely are not done. They could sign someone else on National Signing Day or get another transfer. Former Florida State starting quarterback James Blackman announced his entry into the NCAA transfer portal earlier this week.
Next. Miami QBs N'Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams ready to compete. dark
As the roster currently sits, the addition of Martell was an immense upgrade to the Hurricanes quarterback room. Perry and Williams will have a huge challenge this year or in 2020 to earn the starting quarterback job. If it’s 2020, that gives the incumbents a head start to be primary signal caller on the Miami football team.