Tate Martell will become Miami’s starting quarterback, but what if that doesn’t happen until the 2020 season?
Remember when Miami football was “back”? That lasted for a hot second, as it went from promising to troubling, rising to 10-3 in 2017 and falling to 7-6 in 2018. For another gut-punch, Mark Richt shocked the nation with his retirement after just three seasons, ending his revival of a once glorious program.
The 2018 team partly suffered from failed quarterback play. Whether it was Malik Rosier or N’Kosi Perry, neither player eclipsed 53 percent passing. They combined for 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
For new head coach Manny Diaz, a defensive-minded coach, that’s an issue. So that brought the Hurricanes to the mystical transfer portal, which once had college football fans scratching their heads over what exactly that was. However it’s interpreted, they did walk out with one player: former Ohio State quarterback, Tate Martell.
With Justin Fields’ arrival to Columbus, Martell sought out. He jumped to a situation without a definitive, long-term signal caller. Fields was granted an immediate waiver to play in the fall of 2019, allowing him to work with new head coach Ryan Day and take over for Dwayne Haskins.
Martell might not have the same luck as Fields, though. His appeal remains in question, and the reasons to potentially have it accepted by the NCAA are not guaranteed. Per CBS Sports, Ohio State was not aware of the new 21-year-old’s waiver appeal due to former head coach Urban Meyer’s three-game suspension for “insufficient management action” of Zach Smith.
Is Meyer’s suspension enough to put Martell on the field for 2019? There’s not only one season at risk for the player, but for Diaz’s first go-around, because his alternatives do not spark hope in Miami football’s potential second revival in three years.
The aforementioned Perry will return as a redshirt sophomore and probably offers Miami’s next-best hope. He’s 6-foot-4, five inches taller than the dual-threat Martell, but is not as intriguing of a multi-faceted quarterback.
Perry was recruited as a four-star player in 2017, according to 247Sports, ranking seventh among dual-threat quarterbacks. Hype did exist around him, but not everyone lives up to it, even after one year to learn as a redshirt. His 13:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio was solid, but it happened on just a 50.8 completion percentage and he only scored three times — one of which was on the ground — over his final six appearances, resulting in a 2-4 record.
The offense was anemic during that time. There was a 38-point outburst against Virginia Tech, but that was, by far, Perry’s best night. Everything else, including the embarrassing bowl loss to Wisconsin, was problematic.
This is probably Miami’s Plan B, however. Perry is the most experienced quarterback of anyone on the roster, unimpressive outings aside. For some familiarity as Diaz transitions this team, using a returning face, if Martell must sit, can’t be the worst option.
The alternative was Jarren Williams, another former Richt recruit who played as a freshman in 2018. Another dual-threat quarterback, Williams was rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports, so it’s not like Diaz lacked an intriguing face behind Perry for the 2019 season.
Maybe the Lawrenceville, GA native was the best option to start, but he once explored transferring in December, before Martell’s decision; although Williams remains a Hurricane, so he still has a chance at a significant role under the Florida sun.
Williams might have the most arm talent of any Miami quarterback, entering college with a strong arm and a decent 6-foot-2 frame for this position. Frankly, he could defeat the dual-threat Martell, who was also hyped out of high school but never had an opportunity at Ohio State; maybe it’s even problematic that the new staff chose Fields and left Haskins’ backup behind.
For Williams’ sake, he could take advantage of an opportunity if Martell’s waiver is denied and hope the incoming quarterback never sniffs the job. He wants the competition and will have it, whether or not the depth chart shortens.
Nothing excites me more than competition ❗️
— Kilo (@Jarren2Williams) January 18, 2019
Whoever becomes the quarterback — if it’s Martell, Perry or Williams — holds an uncertain future for Miami. They were on the cusp of greatness in 2017, with a National Championship once in sight. Now, a player with either past struggles or no experience will helm this team. A rookie head coach will guide them.
Risks are all around this program’s core, and it’s not like problems have not existed before. Moments of hope have been just that since the early 2000s, when Andre Johnson, Frank Gore and Willis McGahee were the leaders. Replacing Ken Dorsey’s work even proved troublesome.
For 2019, in a quarterback-driven sport, Diaz must find the player he’ll strap his success to and revive those old times. If Martell can play, it will probably be him. If not, returning players provide as many, if not more, questions to lead a school that desperately needs a sustained comeback to football prominence.