Senior Linebacker Shaq Quarterman on the precipice of Miami football history with his 50th consecutive start against FIU on Saturday. Quarterman will tie former Hurricanes defensive tackle Williams Joseph’s program record against the Panthers.
Senior Linebacker Shaq Quarterman has started all 49 games he has played in for the Miami football program leading up to his 50th game with the Hurricanes against Florida International on Saturday. Quarterman will tie the record previously set by former Miami defensive tackle William Joseph from 1999-2002.
Quarterman has manned the middle of the defense for the Miami football team since his first game as a true freshman in 2016. In four seasons, Quarterman has 327 tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss,12 tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups and five fumble recoveries. From 2016-18 Quarterman was the Hurricanes’ second-leading tackler.
Quarterman and classmate Michael Pinckney who has started 46 games in his Miami football career will be huge holes to replace for Miami at linebacker in 2020. With reduced playing time this season and Quarterman and Pinckney moving on after this season fellow senior Zach McCloud asked to be redshirted in 2019.
McCloud will slide into the spot at middle linebacker vacated by Quarterman. The emergence of Romeo Finley at striker has taken away a lot of snaps from McCloud at strongside linebacker. Quarterman spoke earlier this week about the importance of setting the consecutive games mart with the Miami football program.
"“To have any record at this school, you have to be doing something right…It is definitely a blessing. I have never had the chance to play there (Marlins Park)…This is something I am looking forward to."
Quarterman went through senior day two weeks ago at Hard Rock Stadium. He gets one more chance to play a regular-season game in South Florida in front of his own fans on Saturday against FIU at Marlins Park. There is the long shot the Hurricanes could play in the Orange Bowl game next month.
Quarterman’s tenure with the Miami football program has coincided with head coach Manny Diaz becoming the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach to being elevated to head coach last December. Diaz spoke about what makes Quarterman so great.
"“His conditioning level right now is as good as anybody I’ve ever seen—certainly at the linebacker position…We wear these monitors where we can track the work rate during a game. Against Pittsburgh, he made 50 yard all-out sprints to stop a touchdown and then on the next play he reloaded to play at a high level.He is the epitome of what competitive excellence means…He is a true Cane and bleeds Orange and Green.”"
The record-tying performance by Quarterman puts him at the edge of the list of other Miami football records. Quarterman is 16 tackles shy of getting into the top 10 in career tackles for the Hurricanes. With a career average of 6.67 tackles per game Quarterman would finish his career with 347 tackles.
Quarterman would pass James Burgess for 10th on the all-time list for tackles in Miami football history. He would be just four short of current Los Angeles Charger LB Denzel Perryman for ninth. Quarterman has been on a tear over the last four games. He has 40 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and three pass defenses as Miami has gone 3-1.
If Quarterman can continue at the same pace he has played over the last four games he would finish his Miami career including the bowl game with 357 career tackles. That would vault Quarterman ahead of Perryman and within four of former Miami LB Rod Carter. He has 7.5 TFLs in the last two games.
Quarterman is finishing his Miami football career with a flourish. If he can continue to play at the high level has throughout the last four games, Miami should finish Quarterman’s illustrious career with six straight victories.