Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Hurricanes name Perry starting QB
Diaz says redshirt sophomore ‘gives us a chance to win’ against No. 20 Virginia
CORAL GABLES — The Miami Hurricanes have named N’Kosi Perry their starting quarterback for Friday night’s game against No. 20 Virginia.
After Perry relieved starter Jarren Williams following Williams’ three interceptions on Miami’s first three possessions Saturday against Virginia Tech, Perry threw for a career-high 422 yards to go with four touchdowns and one interception in the 42-35 loss.
Williams, meanwhile, has been deemed day to day, dealing with an apparent shoulder injury. He did not throw at Tuesday’s Hurricanes practice.
UM coach Manny Diaz began his Wednesday news conference with reporters by announcing the decision.
“I just want to take all the suspense out of it: We’re going to start N’Kosi Perry at quarterback on Friday night,” Diaz said. “Jarren Williams is dealing with an upperextremity issue that leaves him less than 100 percent.
“We think N’Kosi gives us a chance to win. I think we all saw last Saturday the improvement in his game, and we’re excited to get behind him, ride behind him and find a way to beat a very wellcoached and tough-minded Virginia football team.”
After Saturday’s game, Diaz said Williams was healthy enough to return, but sticking with Perry was a coach’s decision.
After Williams was benched, he was seen heading to the locker room with a trainer momentarily. He then came back out to the sideline, waving his arms in circles as if to regain feeling in his shoulders and throwing some warmup passes.
He never reentered Saturday’s game.
Diaz indicated Williams remained day to day, as the the team announced Tuesday, and continued to be limited in Wednesday’s practice, which did not have a media viewing portion.
“I’d rather not get into the de
tails of [Williams’ injury], just from a player-confidentiality standpoint,” Diaz said. “Jarren threw last week, was cleared to play, threw some on Sunday.
“Quarterback — it’s like wide receivers —[has to] run with his legs, and you’ve got to have your upper body to throw the football. To me, we expect him —– like I said, he’s day to day — but I just felt from our preparation [that] we had to go with N’Kosi.”
With all that said, Diaz said he still views Williams as the team’s first-string quarterback when healthy.
“We’ve said all along that Jarren’s our guy,” Diaz said, “and now, N’Kosi’s our starter.”
Asked if an impressive performance could lead him back into a permanent starting role, Perry said: “I’m not really thinking about what [coaches] got in mind. We’re just focusing in on getting the win, no matter who’s the quarterback.”
Whether he remains the starter beyond Friday or not, the home game during prime time Friday night on ESPN against a ranked opponent will provide Perry a chance at redemption from last season.
In and out as UM’s starting quarterback along with Malik Rosier, Perry completed 50.8% of his passes for 5.7 yards per attempt, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions as the Hurricanes finished 7-6.
“I feel like it is somewhat partly about me, but it’s about the team,” Perry said. “The whole team needs to redeem ourselves for this game and for the season.”
Players were made aware of the decision to start Perry following Wednesday’s practice.
“The whole team just found out,” Perry said. “I feel like everyone has been hyped up and we’ve been having a great week of practice.”
Said sophomore receiver Dee Wiggins: “It was a great reaction. Everybody cheered him on. You know, ‘Let’s go. Put the team on your back. Control what you can control.’ ”
“We know N’Kosi’s going to do what he’s got to do,” fellow sophomore wideout Mark Pope said. “And we’re going to help him do what he’s got to do.”
The Hurricanes are still determining whether Williams will be available in a backup role Friday.
Tate Martell, who was also involved in the three-player quarterback competition during fall camp, has been back throwing with the quarterbacks this week after transitioning to playing wide receiver.
“Tate’s taking some reps [and] Carson Proctor’s taking some reps as well,” Diaz said. “So yeah, we’ve got different options to go to.”