UM hopes QB competition fuels performance.
CORAL GABLES — Try though he might, Tyler Gauthier can’t escape it.
Everywhere he goes, the question looms large — particularly when people realize he’s not just any offensive lineman for the Hurricanes, but the one entrusted with putting the ball in the hands of Miami’s quarterback on virtually every play.
For now, the center — like most tied to the Hurricanes program — doesn’t have a good answer when family, friends, classmates or reporters ask him whether it will be veteran Malik Rosier or redshirt freshman N’Kosi Perry getting the start when No. 16 Miami opens ACC play on Thursday against Coastal Division foe North Carolina at Hard Rock Stadium.
He’s just willing to say Rosier, Perry and even Cade Weldon have all seen time with the first-team offense recently.
“Everyone’s getting reps. I mean, I don’t know. I’ve seen all three back there. All three have talked to me,” Gauthier said. “We’ll see what happens when we walk out there.”
Though Gauthier, his teammates, coach Mark Richt and coordinator Thomas Brown aren’t about to reveal who the starting quarterback will be before they’re ready, there is something they’re all willing to share.
This somewhat unexpected midseason quarterback competition seems to be bringing out the best in its top two contenders, Rosier and Perry.
With Miami (3-1) forced to prepare for the Tar Heels (1-2) on a short week, the Hurricanes have seen a more assertive Perry in recent days, the redshirt freshman seemingly thriving after his 17-of-25, 224-yard, three-touchdown performance against FIU.
And Rosier, who coaches have long said seems to perform best when he is being pushed by younger teammates, has likely felt the need to refocus after he wasn’t given the opportunity to re-enter the FIU game because Perry was playing so well.
A confident Perry and an edgy Rosier, Brown said, can only help.
“I say all the time that I think competition solves most of your problems. I think competition makes everyone better,” Brown said. “No one guy at any spot should ever feel comfortable, like ‘it’s my job no matter what happens.’ Obviously the more depth we have, the more guys are prepared to play and can help us win, the better off we’ll be down the stretch.”
Added running back DeeJay Dallas, “They’re both applying energy and execution to practice and that’s what we need out of both guys.”
As to how Miami’s offense could be impacted if Richt opts to make a change and end Rosier’s streak of 17 straight starts, the Hurricanes aren’t willing to say much. Players and coaches alike have publicly stated they have faith in both Perry and Rosier.
Now, with conference play upon them, Richt has a decision to make. Does he give veteran Rosier another start? Or is it Perry’s time? The coach still isn’t willing to tip his hand, even alternating on Monday and Tuesday which quarterback led drills during the media viewing portions of each practice.
What he would say is that he thinks either Rosier or Perry can handle the task of leading the offense as the Hurricanes prepare to enter the most critical portion of their schedule.
“I feel good because I know we’ve got guys that can play. If we were scrambling around because everybody’s struggling, that’s a problem,” he said. “Like I said, Malik did nothing wrong. It’s just the young guys just kept maturing and getting better and got to the point where it’s time to see what they could do and Kosi got that opportunity.”