Jacurri Brown compared with Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei
Jacurri Brown was efficient in his first start in the 35-14 Miami win over Georgia Tech last week. Miami will face one of the most high-profile quarterbacks in college football on Saturday in Clemson signal caller DJ Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei has failed to live up to his ranking as the top QB and 10th-ranked player in the 2019 class.
Jacurri Brown was 263rd nationally and the 17th QB in the 2022 class as a four-star prospect with a grade of .9080 by 247 Sports. Uiagalelei was a five-star prospect in 2019 with a grade of .9949. Brown has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 173 yards, three touchdowns and one interception this season.
Jacurri Brown also has 42 carries for 205 yards on 4.88 yards per carry in six games this season. Uiagalelei has completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 2,179 yards, 19 TDs, five interceptions and has 113 carries for 405, a 3.58 average YPC and five TDs. Clemson has also played true freshman Cade Klubnik.
Klubnik was the sixth-ranked player and top QB and Texas prospect in the class of 2022. Klubnik is 9-20 for 85 yards, one TD, one interception and has 13 carries for 38 yards this season. Clemson is ranked sixth in the ACC in yards per game and eighth in yards per play causing some debate who should be the Clemson starting QB.\
Brown developed a lot last week against Georgia Tech. Miami offensive coordinator Josh Gattis kept the game plan simple. Brown was 2-4 for 45 yards on passes that traveled 15 or more yards in the air and 5-14 for 38 yards on pass attempts between five and 14 yards. Miami is eighth in the ACC averaging 7.1 yards per attempt.
Brown is averaging 6.1 yards per attempt. Uiagalelei is eighth in the ACC at 7.2 yards per attempt. Receiving most of the playing time at QB in the last two games, Brown has run for 151 yards on 32 carries. The expectation is that Miami starting QB Tyler Van Dyke will be out on Saturday and Brown will receive his second start.
The ability for Brown as a runner has allowed him to move ahead of Jake Garcia on the Miami QB depth chart according to head coach Mario Cristobal earlier this week. Klubnik has played sparingly for Clemson going 2-5 for 19 yards and an interception with seven carries for 28 yards in the last three games.
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Brown and Uiagalelei will almost definitely receive the majority of snaps at QB on Saturday. The challenge for Brown against Clemson is a huge step up from Georgia Tech last week. Clemson is third in the ACC allowing 6.4 yards per attempt and against the run allowing 3.57 YPC. Gattis could have to get creative offensively.