One of the biggest storylines of Miami Hurricanes fall practice has been who will be the starting QB? Head coach Mark Richt answered that question today when he named redshirt junior QB Malik Rosier the Canes’ starting QB.

The only player in the QB competition with game experience at the collegiate level, Rosier beat out redshirt sophomore Evan Shirreffs and true freshmen N’Kosi Perry and Cade Weldon for the job.

While Rosier is a bit shorter (6’1”) than the other players at QB, he has good athleticism and a strong arm. As a former dual sport athlete (baseball and football), it makes sense that Rosier’s arm strength would be one of his best attributes.

In his career, Rosier has played in several games, mostly in mop-up duty for 3-year starter Brad Kaaya. Rosier played just over half of the Clemson game in 2015, and his only start came the next week at Duke. Rosier had a strong game that night, going 20/29 for 272 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT in a thrilling 30-27 win (which shouldn’t have been as thrilling as it was, but that’s a discussion about the referees that I’ll leave for another time).

For Rosier, the starting job is the culmination of years of hard work. He’s waited his time behind a record-setting QB, and now has a chance to lead the Canes in 2017. Recently, Rosier was compared to another Mark Richt QB: Aaron Murray. If Rosier can approach the success that Murray, the SEC’s all-time leading passer, had, then Miami should be in for a special season.

Congrats, Malik. Now, let’s go win games.

Go Canes