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QB Decisions: Miami tabs Rosier, Clemson Bryant

The Sports Xchange

August 22, 2017 at 12:03 pm.

Oct 24, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Malik Rosier (12) throws a pass as Clemson Tigers linebacker B.J. Goodson (44) applies pressure during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 24, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Malik Rosier (12) throws a pass as Clemson Tigers linebacker B.J. Goodson (44) applies pressure during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Several key quarterback competitions have been settled … for now.

No. 18 Miami, needing to replace departed junior Brad Kaaya, will go with redshirt junior Malik Rosier when the Hurricanes face Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 2, the school announced Tuesday morning.

Rosier, who has one career start in a 2015 win over Duke, beat out redshirt sophomore Evan Shirreffs and two true freshmen. Rosier has 370 career passing yards.

Other schools announcing starting quarterbacks this week included No. 5 Clemson, No. 23 Texas, Rutgers and Utah, where coach Kyle Whittingham surprisingly went with sophomore Tyler Huntley over incumbent Troy Williams, a senior captain. Alabama transfer Cooper Bateman is third string.

Williams started every game last season, leading the Utes to a 9-4 record despite completing only 53.1 percent of his passes for 2,757 yards.

Huntley, who played sparingly last season as a true freshman, likely benefited from a change in offensive coordinators to Troy Taylor, who came from a pass-happy program at FCS Eastern Washington as the Utes try to upgrade their aerial attack.

At Clemson, junior Kelly Bryant will get the first shot to fill the big shoes of Deshaun Watson. Bryant, who has had a slight lead in the race since the start of spring practice, has attempted 18 career passes.

“Kelly Bryant is the starter,” coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement. “He has earned it and I am proud of him. It has been a great competition, but this part is over.”

Swinney added that he hopes to play three quarterbacks early in the season, although the schedule is formidable after a Sept. 2 home opener vs. Kent State. The Tigers then play visiting Auburn and go to Louisville.

Redshirt freshman Zerrick Cooper will be Bryant’s backup, followed closely by true freshman Hunter Johnson.

New Texas coach Tom Herman didn’t close the door on his quarterback battle, although he said returning starter Shane Buechele, a sophomore, will prepare with the first team as the Longhorns get ready for their opener against visiting Maryland on Sept. 2.

Buechele, who completed 236 of 391 passes for 2,958 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season, has been competing with true freshman Sam Ehlinger since the spring.

“As of today, Shane’s starting,” Herman said in his media interview after Monday’s practice. “Now, does that mean he’ll start against Maryland? No. But he’ll take the bulk of the (No. 1) reps. And if he doesn’t take advantage of them (and) Sam plays better than him, then that’ll change.”

Rutgers will go with Louisville graduate transfer Kyle Bolin, who started five games for the Cardinals in 2015 but was relegated to the bench as Lamar Jackson emerged as the Heisman winner last season. Bolin beat out junior Giovanni Rescigno, who started the final five games of last season, and true freshman Johnathan Lewis.

“Just executed; made good decisions,” coach Chris Ash said Monday of Bolin. “Understands the offense. Has really good command of the offense. But it’s really just about execution and making good decisions and protecting the football … that’s what separated him.”