Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Quarterman eager to be defensive leader
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It has become a sort of neardaily ritual for him. He pops in the tape, studies himself — and cringes.
Shaquille Quarterman notched 84 tackles in his first season as a collegiate linebacker at Miami. He earned freshman AllAmerican honors from the likes of ESPN and Pro Football Focus, among others.
But as he watches his body, his movements and his overall play, he knows he could’ve done more.
“I’ve watched film every other day … and I’m disgusted every time,” Quarterman said Friday at the ACC’s annual kickoff event in Charlotte. “When you watch yourself from the year before, especially freshman year, you’re just out there running around. … I look at myself, just running around and now that we’ve had this offseason and I look at all the stuff we’ve learned and I’m like, ‘Dang. I could have made this play. I could have had this interception.’ It’s tough looking at it, but I watch it anyway.”
That kind of self-criticism is likely just what Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz wants to hear from his starting middle linebacker, one of the players expected to be a force for Miami this year.
As the start of a new season looms, the Hurricanes are hoping to contend for their first Coastal Division crown since moving to the ACC in 2004. One of the reasons some college football experts believe Miami can win the division despite not yet knowing its starting quarterback is because of its defense.
The Hurricanes — who closed 2016 with five consecutive wins including their first bowl victory in a decade — had a top-20 defense last season. They were among national leaders in yards per play, tackles for loss, scoring defense and sacks, and Quarterman was one of the unit’s leaders.
He arrived at Miami with high expectations as a former four-star prospect and U.S. Army All-American. And it didn’t take long for him and his fellow freshmen linebackers Mike Pinckney and Zach McCloud, a former standout at Santaluces High, to each earn starting roles in Diaz’s aggressive new scheme.
The trio consistently delivered big plays once the season began, with Quarterman noting Diaz kept the game simple for his group and mentored them to grow into the players they became.
As well as they all played, though, Quarterman emerged as the unit’s leader, playing through a shoulder injury that lingered late into the year. Now, with his sophomore season ahead, Quarterman is embracing his new role, saying he’s determined to set an example for his teammates through camp and beyond.
He’s sought mentoring from former Hurricanes linebacker Jon Beason. He’s reshaped his body, shedding 15 pounds and dropping his body fat from 19 percent to 12 percent. He focused on his flexibility, doing more stretching daily and participating in yoga workouts with some of his teammates.
The focus this offseason has been on preparing himself mentally and physically for what lies ahead and his effort has impressed Miami coach Mark Richt, who selected the 19-year-old to represent the Hurricanes in front of the national media last week, along with running back Mark Walton.
The next step, now, is for Quarterman to use all his offseason preparation when it matters most.
Richt said he doesn’t expect that will be problem.
“I think you heard Shaq talk a little bit about really understanding what it takes to be in condition to play a full season. He knew about halfway through that thing that he was probably a little heavy, he was probably not able to run as hard and as fast as he wanted to at all times, so he’s in much better condition now,” Richt said.
“He’s lighter, he’s leaner and he’s smarter. He didn’t get smarter, I mean, his IQ didn’t change, but his football IQ changed because he understands the game better. He’s a tremendous leader for our defense and for our team and that’s hard to do as early as it is in his career.”
Added Quarterman, “We work hard every day because we want to go to the championship. We want a ring. We want to bring a ring back home to Greentree. And once we do that, we have to do it again.”