One of the biggest storylines of Miami Hurricanes fall practice has been the battle for the starting QB spot. Head coach Manny Diaz ended that battle and gave clarity to the situation earlier today when he named redshirt freshman Jarren Williams the Canes’ starting QB.

Stuck behind 5th year senior Malik Rosier and then-redshirt freshman N’Kosi Perry, Williams only saw action in 1 game during the 2018 season. He went 1-3 passing for 17 yards, and ran for a 2 yard TD in mop-up action against Savannah State in the 2nd game of the year. But despite that lack of game experience, Williams has a wealth of talent, and has apparently taken a big step forward this year.

The youngest player in the QB battle this fall, Williams surpassed redshirt sophomores Tate Martell, an Ohio State transfer, and N’Kosi Perry to win the QB1 job. Both Martell and Perry have talent, but in the estimation of the coaching staff, Williams gives the Canes the best chance to win at present.

A well-built 6’2” 210lbs, Williams has reshaped his body and improved his skills on the field this offseason. The Lawrenceville (GA) native was a U.S. Army All-American in 2018 before enrolling early at Miami last January. Williams completed 56.6% of his passes, threw for more than 7200 yards and 68 TDs and just 18 INTs, with an additional nearly 1300 yards and 22 TDs rushing in 2 and a half years as a starter in HS. So the numbers have been there before, and Miami is betting that they’ll be there again for Williams.

For Williams, the starting job validates his development personally and athletically, and his decision to come to Miami (he flipped late in the recruiting cycle from Kentucky) and stay at Miami (he was rumored to have been evaluating a transfer after the 2018 season). He has put in hours of hard work over the course of this year — since the new staff was hired — to prove himself worthy of the starting QB spot, and that work has paid off with today’s announcement.

Congrats, Jarren. Now, show ‘em what you’ve got, kid!

Go Canes