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High School Career
There are some players in high school that you look at and go “yep, he can play at the next level and he can play right now.” Shaq Quarterman was one of those types of players. He had above average speed, read offensive alignments well and tackled like a mad man when he lined up his potential victim across from the line of scrimmage. What made him “college ready” were all these skills plus the fact that he was already listed as 6’1” and 240 pounds.
Due to his eye popping skills, Quarterman was being recruited by all the star programs in 2016. He played in the Army All American showcase game in early January 2016 and a week or so later was enrolled at Miami as an early entrant.
Freshman Season
Simply put, in his first year on campus Quarterman was spectacular. The Miami program couldn’t have asked for a better player on the field and he even looks to be a leader off the grid iron as well. Quarterman finished the 2016 season leading the team in tackles at 84 (including the bowl game) and three and a half sacks. He anchored and made defensive adjustments for a defensive unit that went from one of the worst, most passive defenses in college football to one that is regarded, after one year under the direction of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, as one of the most aggressive. Due to Diaz playing such an aggressive style of play many personnel packages swapped in and out different players to provide needed respites from game action. Quarterman was one of the select few, even as a freshman, that rarely saw the sideline due to his playmaking ability.
What’s Next for Quarterman?
Honestly, Quarterman needs to “keep doing what he’s doing.” I guess he could try to learn how to read offenses better? Maybe make more tackles? Leading a unit as a freshman is a tall, almost insurmountable order but Quarterman accomplished that task. Now he needs to work hard over the next two years to keep that level of play the norm and possibly fight to raise that bar even further. If he can possibly achieve more next season then he did this past one then you’ll be looking at a possible all-time great Miami linebacker and future first round pick. We have a long way to go though for those notions to be floated around.
What did you think about Quarterman’s first season? Did I miss anything? Could he be an all-time great? Let us know below!