Williams taking command
Hurricanes starting QB quickly adapting to new leadership role
CORAL GABLES —Jarren Williams has had four practices since being named the Miami Hurricanes’ starting quarterback, and teammates are already noticing a difference in his demeanor.
“He’s being a commander. He holds the huddle,” said center Corey Gaynor on Thursday night of the redshirt freshman that won the starting job over redshirt sophomores Tate Martell and N’Kosi Perry. “Just, say, if a lineman would miss a block, he would check them and be like, ‘That’s not our standard,’ and we’d re-run the play because that’s not what we do here.”
The competition aspect of the spring and first two weeks of fall camp is behind Williams. Now, it’s time to be the leader Miami needs at quarterback with the opener against No. 8 Florida just over a week away on Aug. 24 in Orlando. “I would definitely say just being little more vocal than I was before,”
aWilliams said following Thursday night’s practice. “Just making sure guys hear my voice and making sure I’m getting everybody going. If somebody’s doing something wrong, I try to correct them and let them know how to do it right. Just try to be that leader on the field.” With Williams having just one brief appearance late in a 77-0
blowout of FCS program Savannah State to his credit in his first collegiate season, it’s something that Gaynor said was necessary.
“You got to change. You’re the starting quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes now,” Gaynor said. “Jarren’s been doing a great job filling in that role because, as a
quarterback, you’re a natural leader. He’s just trying to find his niche in this program, and he’s working on it each and every day.”
For Williams, the increased command has been, in part, his own doing, but it’s also something demanded of him from offensive coordinator Dan Enos.
“He holds me to a very high standard,” Williams said. “He expects perfection every play, and it’s actually made me a lot better. He doesn’t change from day to day. He expects perfection every day.”
Williams touted the energy he’s seen in this week’s practices since being named the starter and attention to detail in preparation for the Gators. Now working exclusively with the first team has allowed Williams to build more of a rapport with that unit.
“Just repetition, getting it going with the one group every [practice], it builds chemistry,” he said. “We’re building timing too. Timing on a lot of routes because these routes are timing. Just repping those routes every day, repeatedly, you get that connection. It’s just building.”
With greater responsibility on the field comes greater responsibility in the film room, and Williams has placed importance on that aspect of the job.
“So that, when I’m out there, I’m not thinking,” he said. “My raw ability is just taking over.”
Defenders have taken notice to the offense’s approach in practice with Williams leading.
“My first impression would be they’re ready to go and get rolling with each other,” said senior defensive tackle Pat Bethel. “I think they’re all excited to play behind him, and they’re all really bonding with them. I see him leading them very well. I see him taking on that role very well, so I’m excited to see what they can do.”
Said junior defensive end Jonathan Garvin: “It’s more obvious to see his ability because, before, we were more prone to overlook it because we hadn’t at least named that guy. But I remember all the times him scoring on us and me being upset but happy at the same time.”