N’Kosi Perry still has a lot to offer Miami Hurricanes at QB

The decision to name Jarren Williams as the Miami Hurricanes starting QB was based on multiple factors. N’Kosi Perry still has a lot to offer the Miami football team at QB as a backup to Williams.

N’Kosi Perry had some positives during an erratic season in 2018. Perry had a hard time growing because he was in and out of the Miami Hurricanes lineup last season due to inconsistent play. Perry started six games last season. He completed 50.8 percent of his passes for 1,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The lack of accuracy and his inability to take care of the ball was one of the reasons that Perry was beaten out for the starting QB job with the Hurricanes. Perry’s 50.8 percent completion percentage in 2018 ranked 107th out of 113 qualifiers. Perry is going to have to improve accuracy to be Williams primary backup.

Miami Head coach Manny Diaz was quoted in The Athletic recently discussing Perry’s talents and his growth since the 2018 season.

"“N’Kosi again is a guy that can move and buy time in the pocket. I think he throws the ball very effortlessly and can make all the throws. N’Kosi has been in games. I think he understands that. I think he’s a more mature guy than he was a year ago. So, like I said, I mean, the arrow’s been pointing up on him as well.”"

Perry still has to work on how he reads opposing defenses, shows that he knows where to throw the football and being aware of what he needs to do in the Miami offense. Perry told Manny Navarro of The Athletic what Miami offensive coordinator Dan Enos expects of him following the first scrimmage a week ago Saturday.

"“Just make sure I get my eyes in the right place, keep my eyes down the field, show him that I know where to go with the ball,” he said. “It’s really not all about the throws with him. It’s just knowing what to do with the football. You can hand the ball off because your read drops out and it’s an RPO. It just depends on the play.”"

Perry reiterated to Navarro the importance that the Miami staff places on taking care of the ball as a quarterback.

"“Sometimes you’ve got to take chances, but you can’t be careless with the ball,” he said. “You’ve got to be fearless, but not careless.”"

There was a lot of questions following Williams being named the starting QB on Monday if Perry and/or Martell would consider transferring from the Miami football program. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported on Tuesday afternoon that Diaz hopes that they both stay in Coral Gables.

Both Martell and Perry have taken redshirt seasons in their college careers. If they decide to go anywhere this season or potentially in the future there is a strong likelihood they would have to sit out. The one out they have is to move on to another school as a graduate transfer. Perry is not reported on pace to graduate early.

The earliest that Perry could likely take that option would be following the 2020 season. Navarro posted a Tweet on Tuesday afternoon with proof that Martell and Perry were at practice a day after learning they would not be the Hurricanes starting QB.

Perry has the skill set to be an excellent backup QB. His lack of consistency in 2018 shows that he would have a tough time being a starter at a high-level Power Five school. If he decides to stick it out with the Hurricanes, the QB depth for Miami is as good as it has been in many years.