Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Life in post-Kaaya era begins
‘Somebody will step up in the leading role,’ Richt predicts
The photo appeared on one of his social media accounts just days after he made his announcement.
“Time to get used to throwing this,” Brad Kaaya wrote on Instagram above the image of a regulation NFL-size football, one slightly different from the ball he’s been throwing for three years as a Hurricane.
After Kaaya’s decision to bypass his senior year and enter the NFL draft, both the quarterback and the Miami team he is leaving behind find themselves having to make adjustments.
Kaaya, who put his name all over the Hurricanes’ record book, is beginning the work of showing NFL scouts and coaches he is ready for the next level. In Coral Gables, meanwhile, the work of replacing Miami’s all-time career passing leader will begin in earnest when spring practice gets started in the coming months.
That work that will likely contin- ue into fall camp. Although the Hurricanes are expecting to sign two highly touted quarterback prospects in Cade Weldon and N’Kosi Perry, Perry won’t be on campus until after
his summer high school graduation.
And while he didn’t mention either of those players by name Thursday, Hurricanes coach Mark Richt made it clear they — and every other quarterback on Miami’s roster — will have the chance to compete for the job left open by Kaaya’s departure.
“Everybody’s got a shot at it,” Richt said during a season-ending conference call with reporters. “A lot of guys have already taken reps. I really can’t make comments about kids that aren’t on our campus or have not signed — I can’t really talk about any future guys — but we’re really excited about the competition.
“That tends to bring out the best in people. I think when guys are competing and they know it’s a realistic shot of not only being second team, but being a starter, it changes things for guys, too. We’re looking forward to seeing that competition come about, and we’ll learn more as time goes on.”
During his brief time as Miami’s coach, Richt has already presided over one quarterback competition.
Kaaya — who started 38 games for the Hurricanes and threw for 9,968 yards and 69 touchdowns — was always expected to be the starter in 2016, but the role to be his backup was unclear until late August.
Malik Rosier, who filled the backup role in 2015, emerged as the eventual No. 2 on Miami’s roster after camp, fending off challenges from redshirt sophomore Vincent Testaverde, redshirt freshman Evan Shirreffs and freshman Jack Allison.
Aside from Rosier, none of the returning quarterbacks has played a down for the Hurricanes, and Rosier appeared in just three games during Miami’s 9-4 season. He saw more action in 2015, appearing in seven games and starting in one when Kaaya was sidelined by a concussion.
Still, Richt said he’s confident the youngest members of the group have improved after being in his system for a full year and gaining invaluable practice time.
That said, one of Richt’s biggest tasks now involves not only replacing Kaaya’s arm and experience, but the leadership role he filled in the locker room. Kaaya, who earned Miami’s starting job as a freshman in 2014, was often the face of the program in media interviews and beyond. Teammates lauded his toughness, and his willingness to continue playing and leading even as he took hit after hit.
But on that front, Richt was confident too, saying whichever quarterback earns the starting job will eventually grow into the kind of leader Miami will need him to be.
“Somebody will step up in the leading role, whether it happens in spring or summer or fall or wherever,” Richt said. “Somebody will be in that position and he will have earned the right to lead. That changes things for people. You see a lot of guys that are backups that kind of have all the characteristics of leadership, but know it’s maybe not their role yet until they take over the starting position. Then it changes things for them.”
As to recruiting wide receivers to come to Miami without a veteran quarterback at the helm, Richt says that too, will take care of itself. With just four weeks until National Signing Day, Miami has secured only two verbal commitments from receivers, and the position is one Richt felt lacked depth in the 2016 season.
Can he persuade more to join the fold in the coming weeks? He thinks so.
“The big thing is that they understand there’s a tremendous talent base within this quarterback group, that whoever rises will be able to get the ball to you and be able to help you showcase the things you can do within the team concept,” Richt said of recruiting receivers in the post-Kaaya era.