Richt non-committal on quarterback starter
Miami coach Mark Richt’s plan last week was to put redshirt freshman quarterback N’Kosi Perry into the game for his team’s third series to see how things might turn out.
The way they turned out was that Perry played for all but one fourth-quarter series in engineering a 31-17 victory over Florida International.
But whether Perry (17-of-25 passing for 224 yards and three touchdowns against one interception) will earn his first collegiate start when the No. 16 Hurricanes (3-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) host North Carolina (1-2, 1-0 ACC) Thursday night remains a mystery.
Richt is keeping his options open with senior Malik Rosier, the starter for Miami’s first four games, still in the picture.
Richt said that Perry, Rosier, and even redshirt freshman Cade Weldon shared reps with the first team as the Hurricanes quickly got back to work with the quick turnaround.
“I’m going to continue to watch practice and let everybody know when it’s time for them to know,” Richt said. “But I’m not telling what’s happening.”
Rosier spent the rest of the game on the sidelines with headsets on after completing two of his three pass attempts against FIU. He has completed only 52.1 percent of his attempts for just under 153 yards a game while rushing for 88 yards. He has accounted for 10 of Miami’s 24 touchdowns — five each rushing and passing — and been intercepted twice in 73 pass attempts.
In addition to his long stint against FIU, Perry saw extensive action in the rout of Savannah State and is 26-of-39 passing for 317 yards and six touchdowns for the year. He also has been intercepted twice, though the deep third-down throw against FIU actually worked in Miami’s favor, serving as a virtual punt when the defender couldn’t return it.
“A lot of times the position is a lot more settled than it is right this second,” Richt said. “But the very good news is we’ve got some very competent guys that can play. That’s what I’m most excited about.”
There will come a point, Richt said, that even true freshman Jarren Williams may move into the picture.
“Malik did nothing wrong,” Richt said. “It’s just that the young guys kept maturing and kept getting better and it got to the point that it was time to see what they can do, and N’Kosi got that opportunity.”
Richt also was asked if playing two quarterbacks would be a possibility.
“I don’t know,” he said. “We’ll see. I know y’all want more, but that’s all you’re getting.”
