’Canes junior trio has staying power

Quarterman joins fellow linebackers McCloud, Pinckney for 2019 return

CORAL GABLES – Shaq Quarterman, Mike Pinckney and Zach McCloud made Hurricanes history three years ago when they became the first trio of freshman linebackers to start at Miami.

They now know they’ll finish their college careers together.

Quarterman announced Tuesday he plans to return to Miami for his senior year instead of entering the NFL draft. His decision was made public a day after Pinckney announced the same. McCloud, a former Santaluces High standout, said last month he intended to return to Miami as well.

Quarterman — one of the Hurricanes’ more vocal and emotional leaders — was succinct in his announcement, posting a photo of himself with new Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz on Twitter and writing simply, “One more round. I’m all in.”

Diaz, who served as Miami’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the last three years, acknowledged Quarterman’s post by retweeting the picture with a series of

emojis and “2019.”

This past season, Quarterman was the Hurricanes’ second-leading tackler behind senior safety Jaquan Johnson. Quarterman finished with 82 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, six sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and six quarterback hurries.

The three linebackers, who are friends off the field, had high hopes for their junior season. But after Miami finished the year at 7-6, Pinckney indicated in his announcement he couldn’t “end my career at Miami on that note.”

And all three have often said they want to add to the Hurricanes’ tradition at that position. Now they’ll have one more chance to do it together.

“That’s what Miami was built upon,” Quarterman said last August. “Since they were created, Miami was hated, especially when they started winning. … And the way they won? I just wanted to be a part of that.

“So when I got here, for that torch to be passed down, I felt like we could be the group that could bring it back or is going to bring it back. That’s just the way I think.

“We see the guys who came before us. It’s not like Ed Reed never comes back. It’s not like Jon Beason never comes back. It’s not like Ray Lewis never comes back. And if we haven’t fulfilled what we need to fulfill here, it’s going to suck. It’s going to hurt.”

Miami’s linebackers aren’t the only players who have made decisions in recent days about their respective futures.

Running back Travis Homer signed with an agent and indicated he will enter the draft, while offensive lineman Venzell Boulware also said he is forgoing his final season of eligibility. Receiver Lawrence Cager, meanwhile, is reportedly transferring according to WatchStadium’s Bretty McMurphy.

Hurricanes defensive end Joe Jackson, another one of their draft-eligible juniors, has not made his decision public yet.