The phenomenon of players transferring when they are upset with their playing time or situation on a team has proliferated over the past few years. Are Miami football players hesitant to compete against their teammates for playing time?
Social media has created a society that expects instant gratification that seems to have generated football players that expect to be given playing time and not have to earn it. The Miami football team is no different.
Complaints by Freshmen, QB Jarren Williams and running back Lorenzo Lingard, on Twitter reportedly played a role in former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant withdrawing his visit to Miami. Bryant eventually wound up signing with Missouri.
In a long since deleted Tweet Lingard cryptically stated his opposition to Bryant considering Miami. The former Clemson quarterback eventually pulled out and announced he decided to join the Tigers. The sign of any great program is competition. Are Lingard and Williams hesitant to compete for their jobs?
Both players were rumored as possible transfers this offseason. Williams reportedly decided to stay after meeting with Richt and his son Jon who used to be the Quarterbacks Coach.
Winners win and loser find excuses! Find the problem and fix it. that's all that matter, finding a way to win. This city deserves better. The fan deserves better! From a TRUE Cane who gave the school everything he had on the field. 🙌🏾 #canesfan #lovemyschool #thrillhill3
— Randal Thrill Hill (@thrill333) October 28, 2018
What will happen if Williams loses the battle to become the starting quarterback to incumbent N’Kosi Perry during the spring or in training camp in August? There is also the added pressure that Ohio State transfer Tate Martell could gain eligibility and be inserted in the quarterback mix.
Miami Hurricanes
Could Williams decide to move on once and for all then? Or would Williams stick around likely getting a chance to play should Martell or Perry falter? What about Perry? What will he do if he is relegated to the bench? How would he feel after starting for half of the 2018 season?
If Martell gains eligibility obviously one of those three would be the third string QB. Breaking news…it wouldn’t be Martell. He didn’t transfer to Coral Gables to be third string. Would either Perry or Williams stick around as the third QB? It’s hard to imagine either of them would.
If either Perry or Williams transferred they would have to petition the NCAA to play immediately or they would lose a year of eligibility. Both players have burned a redshirt season.
The Spun reprinted the content in the Twitter posts by Lingard and then the response by Williams.
"“They say it’s business. I believe in my QBs … Anything possible with opportunity but loyalty is the code? … I forgot its business,” Lingard posted in a tweet that has since been deleted. He added a laughing emoji and the words “#Same opinion free.”Freshman quarterback Jarren Williams, one of the jewels of the Hurricanes’ 2018 recruiting class and the player many believe could be Miami’s quarterback of the future, chimed in, quote-tweeting Lingard’s post and writing “Real talk,” an indication he agreed with Lingard’s sentiment."
The offensive players on the Miami football roster begin 2019 with a clean slate. They will be able to show their talents and what they have learned to a completely new staff. That’s especially true for the quarterbacks. New Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach Dan Enos will be far more progressive than Mark Richt was.
No matter who becomes Miami’s starting QB, they will have a chance to play in a far more modern offense. Richt was too stubborn in his use of the pro-style offense. Opening up the competition and putting the best player in each position to help Miami win is good for the team. The Hurricane players should have that attitude.