South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
QBs Rosier, Perry still shuffling
MIAMI GARDENS — Already once this season, the move has worked.
A little more than a month ago, Miami Hurricanes coach Mark Richt gave redshirt senior quarterback Malik Rosier the start against FIU, then brought redshirt freshman N’Kosi Perry in on the team’s third offensive series.
Perry went on to complete his first 10 passes that night and lead the Hurricanes to two quick touchdown drives.
So with Miami’s offense struggling and in need of a spark, maybe Richt figured why not try the same strategy against Duke?
The coach, who hinted this week Perry would likely play against the Blue Devils, inserted Perry in on Miami’s third offensive series Saturday night, but at least early on, the results — and conditions — were much different.
With the Hurricanes down, 7-0, and deep in their own territory during a driving rainstorm, Perry wasn’t given much room to work on his first series, starting his first drive against the Blue Devils on the Hurricanes’ own 8-yard line.
On that first series, Perry did connect on his first pass — which went for a negative four yards to DeeJay Dallas.
Perry played two series before Richt went back to Rosier, who upon his return to the game, handed the ball to Dallas for what turned out to be an 83-yard touchdown run, the Hurricanes’ first score of the night.
Richt’s management of the Hurricanes’ quarterback situation has been a the source of consternation among frustrated Miami fans, who have long been crying for Perry to be given more opportunities to play as Rosier has struggled with his accuracy.
Entering Saturday’s game, Rosier had completed 52 percent of his passes for 931 yards with six touchdowns, while Perry had completed 56 percent of his passes for 666 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Richards has high school number retired: Former Hurricanes receiver Ahmmon Richards, who saw his football career end earlier this season after he sustained a neck injury, had his number retired Friday night by his high school alma mater, Wellington High.
Richards was a four-star prospect and U.S. Army All-American coming out of Wellington where he totaled 2,722 yards and
39 touchdowns on 144 catches in three years.
Richards, whose career at Miami was marred by various injuries before his career ended, played in
22 games as a Hurricane, finishing with 74 catches for 1,382 yards and six touchdowns. He was named a Freshman All-American and second-team All-ACC honoree in
2016 after his 934 receiving yards in 2016 broke Michael Irvin’s freshman school record.
Hurricanes honor Hall of Famers: During Saturday’s homecoming came, Miami honored several of its past greats, including the newest members of the UM Sports Hall of Fame.
The 2019 class, which will be formally inducted next spring, includes former Hurricanes football players Vince Wilfork, Antrel Rolle, Scott Nicolas and Stephen McGuire. Also set to be inducted are former Hurricanes baseball player Cesar Carrillo, men’s basketball player Constantin Popa, track and field athlete Tabia Charles Collins and Dr. Jenny Krawec, the first former rower selected for Hall of Fame induction.
Welcome home: Duke coach David Cutcliffe, like many coaches across the country, has come to South Florida looking for talent to help fill out his roster and Saturday’s game at Hard Rock Stadium was a homecoming of sorts for several former Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County football standouts.
Among the Duke players who hail from South Florida are redshirt senior defensive tackle Edgar Cerenord (American Heritage-Plantation), freshman running back James Jackson IV (Gulliver Prep), redshirt senior wide receiver Trevon Lee (Cardinal Gibbons), junior defensive end Terrell Lucas (Miramar High), redshirt senior running back Nicodem Pierre (Miami Coral Reef ), freshman linebacker Rocky Shelton II (St. Thomas Aquinas), redshirt senior receiver Chris Taylor (University School) and sophomore safety Marquis Waters (Delray Beach Atlantic). Miami running back Travis Homer carries the ball in the first quarter on Saturday. He rushed for 133 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown.