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Miami Football 2015 Player Profile: Brad Kaaya

In an effort to keep even the most hardcore Miami fan up to date on their favorite players, SOTU will be running a Player Profile series. In these posts, our writers will profile players from each position that they think should get more face time. They will recap their previous year, or in some cases, preview what may be to come. That way, when the season get's here, you hopefully will have a new found love for the team on the field.

By Jerry Steinberg
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Brad Kaaya

Sophomore - QB - 6'4 209 - Los Angeles, Ca (Chaminade College Prep)

Performed like a veteran as a true freshman last season, and is looking to take on more of a leadership role this season.

Summary: Let's start with the negatives. Kaaya is not very mobile, he made a few bad (freshman-esque) reads last season, and a good percentage of his early success can be explained by having 4 high round NFL Draft Picks (Duke Johnson, Phillip Dorsett, Clive Walford, and Ereck Flowers) in the huddle with him in 2014.  Despite all of that,  Kaaya displayed incredible poise, excellent decision making, and most importantly, great accuracy last season.  He has more than enough arm strength to make the deep throws, he has nice touch on the underneath stuff, and his footwork in the pocket is beyond his years.  So there is very little question he can and will continue to make plays in the passing game for the Hurricanes.  But coming off a 6-7 season, with a less experienced offensive line in front of him, and a new set of play makers to rely on, can Brad Kaaya make the players around him better?  Can he be the charismatic leader, the big time signal caller who leads UM back to the promised land?  It's a lot of pressure for a second year player.  If any combination of the following happens: Joe Yearby matures, Gus Edwards becomes a complete back, Stacy Coley regains his form, Stan Dobard holds on to the ball, Art Kehoe works his magic, and Rashawn Scott stays healthy.... it would help a ton. But make no mistake about it, more than anything else, the play of Brad Kaaya is going to make or break the season. Fortunately for the 'Canes he is a mature and talented QB with as high am upside as any player in the ACC, if not the country.  3,000 + yards and 30+ TDs and consideration for Conference Player of the Year would all seem like realistic possibilities if he plays up to his ability and gets some help.

Stay tuned for more player profiles from SOTU as we count down to kick off.

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Countdown to Kickoff: 2015 Miami Hurricanes Football

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