Miami Hurricanes QB Jarren Williams hard work is paying off

During his one season in the Miami Hurricanes football program, rising redshirt freshman quarterback Jarren Williams has had a lot of growth. By many accounts, Williams has been Miami’s most impressive QB this spring.

The abysmal quarterback play from the departed Malik Rosier and rising redshirt sophomore N’Kosi Perry hindered the Miami Hurricanes offense in 2018. Miami was 90th or below nationally in most passing categories. The New Miami head coach Manny Diaz has made it a point of saying the QB play must improve in 2019.

If the Miami Hurricanes are going to be successful this fall they need more steady play at quarterback. The Hurricanes have not had consistency at the position since Brad Kaaya left for the NFL with a year of eligibility remaining following the 2016 season.

Jarren Williams, Perry and Ohio State transfer Tate Martell who will be a sophomore in eligibility in 2019 are challenging to be the Miami Hurricanes starting QB this fall.

All three QBs bring different strengths and flaws to the position. Many have said that Williams looks most like an NFL QB. He has been the most accurate passer of the three this spring.

Williams told Christy Chirinos of the Sun Sentinel that he put in a lot of work this offseason. The Georgia native said he has lost 15-20 pounds since last fall heading into spring practice and that he “feels leaner, stronger and faster than he did last fall.” 

Williams has watched an extensive amount of film from the Miami spring practices and what new offensive coordinator Dan Enos did while he was the OC at Arkansas. The 6’2 210-pound signal caller has comprehensively studied Enos’ playbook and spent time at the Soffer Indoor Practice Facility working with receivers on timing.

Williams spoke to Chirinos about all the hard work he put in during the offseason and since spring practice has started.

"“I actually try to watch film, at least two hours, every single day. I feel like you kind of have to, playing my position and learning this new offense,…I try to make sure I watch a good two hours every single day of film, get with my guys and work on timing the routes.I feel really confident in myself and I feel like I prepared for this moment all my life…I’m not where I want to be at right now. There’s so many things I can work on to get better. But if that does happen, I feel confident and I feel confident in myself to handle that position.”"

Williams has impressed his teammates and the coaching staff with the hard work he has put in during the offseason and the growth he has made since stepping on campus last year. Rising junior wide receiver Mike Harley who will be one of the Hurricanes main targets in 2019 praised Williams.

"“Jarren’s just blossomed…I feel like he was in a cage as well and he just got free and he’s being himself…Not pushing him up, but [he’s] like a pro-style quarterback. Like he’s been in the NFL before. I love the zip on it. The accuracy.I just feel like he’s ready. He matured the most and it’s just like. … it’s a perfect ball from the quarterback.”"

Enos strengthened Harley’s points about Williams having NFL ready mechanics throwing the football.

"“Jarren looked good. I was really impressed with him. He threw a really good ball. He’s got very good mechanics; he’s got good feet. I think he’s done a really good job at working.I’ve noticed him in the building a lot in his off time, doing different things — with all the guys, but Jarren in particular — and I was impressed with him.”"

It’s tough to understand why Mark Richt didn’t see a chance to play Williams last year. The final two games of the season against Pittsburgh and Wisconsin provided opportunities to play Williams and maintain his redshirt. Williams and the Hurricanes offensive players now get a chance to start anew under Enos.

Williams stated that Enos’ playbook is significantly different than Richt’s. The quarterbacks will have more responsibility at the line of scrimmage. Motion and shifting will be called nearly infinitely more under Enos. Williams, Martell or Perry are going to have to know where the players on offense need to be presnap.