CORAL GABLES – Darrell Langham’s coming-out party happened almost exactly a year ago.
It was only one play, but it was a game-deciding 23-yard touchdown reception with six seconds left that propelled Miami to a 24-20 road win over Florida State last year. It effectively ended a seven-game losing streak to the team from Tallahassee.
It was also one of quarterback Malik Rosier’s best plays and throws of his career, given the stakes of that game and how the Hurricanes season was going back then. It was a major highlight in Miami’s 10-0 start last year.
“It meant a lot just to end the streak,” Langham told media members earlier this week. “We have a new beginning now. It’s a fresh start, pretty much.”
Last year was last year. This year is going to be different in more ways than one.
For starters, Langham is no longer an unknown talent outside of South Florida. He’s also a fifth-year senior with some game experience under his belt.
Langham – who has eight receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown in five games this season – is already off to a better pace than he was at in all of 2017, when he recorded five catches, 100 yards, and a touchdown as a redshirt junior.
And Langham will have a new quarterback under center. Rosier, who is also a fifth-year senior, was officially supplanted by redshirt freshman quarterback N’Kosi Perry in last week’s home game against North Carolina.
Langham offered his honest assessment of Perry, who was 8-12 passing for 125 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in last week’s 47-10 win over the Tar Heels.
“I think he has performed well,” the 6-4, 220-pound wide receiver said. “He is doing his job, getting his calls in. He is not afraid to run the ball when he has to. He is tough when he runs it too. He stays up, and no one knocks him down. I feel like he has kind of taken over this whole offense. It fits his role.”
Langham hopes that No. 17 Miami (4-1; 1-0 in ACC) can pull off a more comfortable win this time against Florida State (3-2; 1-2 in ACC). After all, the Hurricanes will go into this year’s rivalry game as a 13.5-point favorite over the Seminoles.
But he knows deep down that anything can happen this afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.
“Knowing the game, I’m not sure how the game will go,” Langham said. “I just know we are going to have to fight the whole game. If it comes down, it doesn’t matter if it’s me or anybody else on the team. I know someone is going to step up and perform the way I did. I have faith in my team.”
Perry seems to be confident under center. Though he has been playing particularly well in three game appearances this season, the dual-threat quarterback is not about to take Florida State for granted.
“I am very thankful and very excited for this opportunity,” Perry said. “It is something I have been looking forward to, growing up my whole life. I expect them [Florida State] to play harder than they have against anybody else. They got great players on their team. No matter what their record is, I know they are going to play hard.”
Miami senior offensive lineman Tyler Gauthier would be ecstatic if his team can pull off a win over Florida State at home today.
“There is nothing I’d rather have than for us to win at home”, the offensive line anchor said. “I mean, it’s my senior year. You have got to beat Florida State your senior year, that is just the way it is. And I mean, to do it at home is going to be awesome.”
The kickoff for today’s Miami-Florida State game is set for 3:30 p.m. It will be nationally televised on ABC.
