It has been an eventful first week of Spring Practice for the Miami Hurricanes quarterbacks. Tate Martell was ruled eligible for the 2019 season during the first day on Tuesday. On Monday backup Cade Weldon announced he was transferring.
Martell rising redshirt freshman Jarren Williams and rising redshirt sophomore N’Kosi Perry who started six games in 2018 all had a chance to assert themselves at quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes this week. The Hurricanes three signal callers took turns with the first team during the first week of practice.
Martell transferred to Miami after spending two seasons at Ohio State. He redshirted in 2017 and was the backup to Heisman Trophy third-place finisher Dwayne Haskins last season. Perry was erratic last season and Williams only played late in a 77-0 victory over Savannah State.
Armchair quarterbacks were prevalent after the first week of practice. Many fans throughout social media made observations about the QB play during the first week of spring practice despite not being present to see the competition. The Miami Hurricanes players and coaching staff had their own takes on the QB play last week.
All three QBs have their own strengths that give them an edge to earn become the starter against Florida August 24 in Orlando. Martell seems to be the best leader of the three and the most versatile runner. Williams is the most accurate and Perry likely has the biggest arm and best speed.
The Miami Hurricanes players seem drawn to Martell. His former high school teammate, rising sophomore tight end Brevin Jordan called him elite. Rising junior wide receiver Mike Harley also commented on Martell to the Miami Herald this week.
"“Every time I catch a ball, a piece of turf flies in my face — or I can feel the wind through my helmet…The zip on it. It’s like speed. a short general — very short, with a deep voice you wouldn’t expect."
Williams wasn’t given a fair chance to earn playing time last year. It seemed as if former head coach Mark Richt was hesitant to play him and even Perry because of their youth compared to the experience of departed redshirt Senior QB Malik Rosier. Perry and Rosier were both inconsistent and on the whole ineffective last season.
Harley was also impressed with the play of Williams this week.
"“Not boosting him up (Williams)…but [he’s] like a pro-style quarterback, like he’s been in the NFL before. Like, I just love the zip on it, the accuracy. I just feel like he’s ready. He matured the most. It’s just like a perfect ball from a quarterback.”"
Diaz has expressed the importance of competition in the Miami football program since succeeding Richt on December 30. He spoke to the press about Perry and Williams reaction to Martell being granted the waiver to play in 2019 after Tuesday’s first practice.
"“No different than the way they would have reacted when it was first announced that Tate was coming…they understand that this is the University of Miami and there should always be an expectation of competition. No different than how Tate should react to Jarren and N’Kosi every day at practice.This is going to be a competition. We all want to talk about the quarterback for good reason but we won’t be who we want to be unless we really have some intense competition for playing time at practice.”"
There was no specific order this week with when the quarterbacks participated in drills according to the Herald. Susan Miller Degnan of the Herald reported that Williams was impressive in Friday’s third and last practice of week one. She said that Perry also played well.
Miller Degnan observed that Martell “was waaaay off target for many of the throws, often overthrowing his receivers by a mile. He appears tight.” Williams was the most impressive QB from the majority of observers during the first week of practice. Miller Degnan had further analysis of the QB play from week one.
"“Redshirt freshman Jarren Williams looked terrific again. His throws look so comfortable and easy and right on point. Of course, we’re not talking about defense here, but when it comes to form and release and the way the ball is delivered to the receiver, he looks very sharp.He threw one bomb to slot receiver Mike Harley Jr., that was as perfect a throw as you will ever see. It hit the fingertips of Harley, who was in a flat-out sprint and brought in the ball as he raced toward the end zone. We just haven’t seen him miss too much at all.”"
Perry has been more accurate throwing the football during the spring then he was during the 2018 season. As a redshirt Freshman Perry completed 50.8 percent of his passing attempts. Miller Degnan gave a report on Perry as well.
"“Perry also has been throwing the ball well, with crisp slants to either side and nice line-drive completions. Perry’s deep balls have also for the most part been accurate and delivered with ease.”"
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos is likely to continue rotating Martell, Perry and Williams with the first team as they continue to learn his offense. Enos will run a lot more motion and shifting than Richt. Martell has more experience playing in a spread like offense under Urban Meyer and Ryan Day at Ohio State.
As spring practice continues to move forward all three quarterbacks will get a chance to show their mettle and why they should be considered the first team quarterback when Spring practice ends in Orlando with the spring game four weeks.