The 2018 season was turbulent one on and off the field for Miami Hurricanes rising redshirt sophomore quarterback N’Kosi Perry. Mediocrity on the field and pair of incidents on social media marred the Ocala Vanguard alum.
N’Kosi Perry split time as the Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback in 2018 with since graduated Malik Rosier. Perry started six of Miami’s 13 games last season. He played with the same mediocrity that made Rosier the scapegoat for the Hurricanes ills over the last two seasons.
Perry finished the 2018 season throwing for 1,091 yards, completing 50.8 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. Perry was 107th in FBS in completion percentage and 99th in passing efficiency. If Perry is going to be the Miami Hurricanes starting QB in 2019 those numbers need to improve significantly.
Perry is being challenged by his classmate, Ohio State transfer Tate Martell and rising redshirt freshmen Jarren Williams. Willams has reportedly been the most accurate and impressive of the three QBs this spring. We will find out a lot more when Miami holds their first open scrimmage on Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami.
The statistics that the Miami Athletic Department released after Saturday’s first scrimmage at Columbus High School were incomplete. Martell, Perry and Williams did not have the same statistical categories released. There was no report of any interceptions thrown or if they were even tabulated.
Perry spoke earlier this spring with reporters as relayed by the Sun Sentinel’s Christy Chirinos about the maturing he has done during the offseason and that he visualizes himself as the Miami Hurricanes starting QB this fall.
"“I definitely see myself as a starter and a big difference for me from last year is I feel I’m a lot more mature on the field and I know how to work with guys. Like my teammates, if they need anything, they can come to me.It’s 24/7 (being the starting QB at Miami). Or like Coach (Manny) Diaz said. It’s 24/7, 365 days of the year. You’re always working. You’re always a quarterback. Everyone is going to look at you as the quarterback. So you have to be on your Ps and Qs at all times.…I definitely learned from experience. I definitely learned [from last season] and I understand that it wasn’t acceptable for me and especially for my teammates. I feel like I disrespected them and I let them down. I don’t want to do that anymore.I’ve always got a chip on my shoulder, but I’m focusing on myself,” he said. “I feel I’m my own competition.”"
Perry showed the leadership needed from the QB position last week in practice when several receivers dropped passes. Miami’s most experienced QB told rising Junior wide receiver Mike Harley to pick up his play. Harley and Perry were part of the same Miami recruiting class in 2017. Harley has been impressed by Perry this spring.
"“N’Kosi’s doing 10 times better. Mature. I just feel like Kosi’s just trusting the process, going through life smooth and I’m ready for him to play as well. Can’t wait to see him”"
Perry’s numbers were promising in the scrimmage at Columbus on Saturday. He was 5-7, for 126 yds, with two touchdowns TDs. The Hurricanes need leadership from the entire QB unit, not just who earns the starting job. Getting Perry, Martell and Williams on the same page will unify the entire Hurricanes team.
The Miami football team often seem fractured in 2018. The constant switching back and forth between Perry and Rosier by former Head Coach Mark Richt did not help. Richt was once known as a QB guru. His mishandling of the position hindered the entire team. Bringing in new offensive coordinator Dan Enos should help.
Enos handled the biggest QB controversy in college football in generations in 2018. Jalen Hurts led Alabama to the National Championship game as a freshman in 2016. Enos was brought in for the 2018 season and kept Hurts in a positive frame of mind despite losing his job to Heisman Trophy runner-up Tua Tagovailoa.