CORAL GABLES – In this season’s first official weekly press conference, Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz took the time to speak with local media members on Monday (Aug. 19).
The first-year head coach spoke about the backup quarterback battle between Tate Martell and N’Kosi Perry. Even thought Jarren Williams won the job, everyone knows that the backup role is just as important because he can step into the starter’s spot at any time.
In short, this battle is too close to call at this time.
“Right now, Tate and N’Kosi are battling it out to be our ‘number two’ quarterback,” Diaz said. “We felt like, after we got through last Friday, that we had not, as we were getting into the game plan stuff for the opener, to really see which of the two guys could really grasp that. Tate is still, to that point, he may be our second quarterback, so it’s hard to have him play another position when he may be our next guy in, God forbid, if something were to happen to Jarren [Williams]. To me, right now, that’s the battle that’s going on.”
Diaz also spoke about the left guard starting position. It was won by freshman Zion Nelson.
“Zion, at left tackle, in a strange way, reminds me of the linebackers when they were here spring of their freshman year,” Diaz said. “First of all, Zion was impressive in offseason program, in our mat drill program…His athleticism is really off the charts. His body was changing. David Feeley and his staff did an amazing job, just in terms of putting on weight. Kyle Bellamy and nutrition. Butch Barry getting him ready and versed in the offense. It was one of those deals where, ‘He might be our best guy there. Let’s put the freshman in and let’s kind of see what happens.’”
Diaz had more to say about Nelson.
“I remember seeing the same thing with Shaq Quarterman and Mike Pinckney and Zach McCloud in spring of 2016,” Diaz said. “What happened is, he just maintained the job from there on out. He is a very highly motivated young man. He’s very mature beyond his years. He does not look like a young guy out there. What helps – similar to Pinckney and Shaq, for example – he has above-the-charts athleticism. Even if he makes a mistake, he has the quickness to make up for it at some time. I also remember Pinckney and Quarterman and McCloud, the first month of their freshman year…they’re a lot different today than they were then. But Zion has for sure earned our tackle spot.”
Diaz spoke on what he’s looking for from his team in Saturday night’s season opener against Florida.
“One of our main objectives this offseason has been to find that competitive spirit, that drive, that backbone, that benefited Florida a year ago,” Diaz said. “We know that they will provide that test because obviously, I know Coach [Dan] Mullen well. I know Nick Savage, their strength coach. I know how their teams will be conditioned, and I know the energy and the toughness that they will play with. Certainly when you’re looking at their personnel, you’re talking about as good of skill [players] as anybody we’re going to see all season.”
Source: Hurricanesports.com
