Mario Cristobal pleased with Miami football QB development

Led by Washington State transfer Cameron Ward, the Miami football program has upgraded the quarterback room for the 2024 season. Miami also added Albany transfer Reese Poffenbarger and 2024 three-star signee, Judd Anderson. Redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and sophomore Emory Williams also return at QB for Miami.

Mario Cristobal praised how well the entire QB room has competed for Miami throughout spring practice. It is clear from Cristobal's comments that Poffenbarger and Williams have emerged as the contenders to be the second-team QB behind Ward. Brown provides Miami with athleticism and experience on the depth chart.

Brown started two games during the 2022 season and the Pinstripe Bowl versus Rutgers in 2023. Brown needs to improve his accuracy to move up the depth chart. Poffenbarger provides Miami with experience. Williams has competed well this spring after off-season arm surgery.

Anderson is a candidate to redshirt in 2024 as the fifth-team QB. Williams could also redshirt if Ward stays healthy and Poffenbarger emerges as the second-team QB. Brown is a player to watch when the transfer portal opens on April 16. Entering his third season with Miami Brown could see playing time elsewhere.

""Emory and Rees have really done a good job of staying on those heels of Cam. Cam is obviously taken the one reps and he deserves it. He's earned that and then both Emory and Rees...are kind of right after that...Then you see a lot of really good things from Jacurri and Judd Anderson and the limited reps he gets. You see a guy that's going to also be a really good player down the line. So it's a crowded room, but a good room and a talented one and we haven't had that yet. So the most important thing is that they approach every day with a good attitude and then they're ready to compete and see how it all shakes out at the end of spring practice. "

- Mario Cristobal

At 6'5, Williams provides Miami with an accurate QB who has an ideal frame at the position. Poffenbarger has two years of eligibility remaining. Poffenbarger is listed around 6'0. Miami gains an experienced QB who is more athletic than Williams. Poffenbarger would provide Miami with a QB closer in skill set to Ward than Williams.

Miami is in a much better place at QB than they were a year ago. Brown, Tyler Van Dyke and Williams were the only three scholarship QBs on the 2023 Miami roster. Injuries and ineffectiveness by Van Dyke caused Miami to switch to Williams last year. Williams started versus Clemson and Florida State before breaking his arm versus the Seminoles.

With Van Dyke entering the transfer portal and Williams out, Miami was forced to start Brown in the Pinstripe Bowl. Brown did not play in the 2023 regular season, choosing to take a redshirt year. With five scholarship QBs on the 2024 roster, Miami will have far more options at the position this season.