As redshirt freshman QB Jarren Williams nurses an ailing shoulder, sophomore QB N’Kosi Perry will make his first start of the season today against the #20 Virginia Cavaliers.
With a new gunslinger under center for this week’s game, some of the Hurricanes’ wide receivers gave their take on what Perry brings to the table and how the offense might be different with #5 calling the shots, beginning with senior KJ Osborn.
“It doesn’t change the offense too much,” Osborn said. “Just some of the tendencies - obviously Kosi can get out of the pocket, has tremendous arm strength, it changes with the scrambles. He kind of reminds me of my quarterback (at Buffalo), Tyree Jackson… But other than that, the offense is the offense.”
Coming in off the bench down 21-0 last week, Perry led the Hurricanes all the way back to tie the game in the 4th quarter before the UM defense ceded a game-winning touchdown to the Virginia Tech Hokies. While Perry wasn’t able to leave the field with a win, he was able to gain his teammates’ confidence that he will never give up, even when faced with a steep deficit.
“What I saw on the sideline was his leadership,” Osborn said. “I saw him talking to guys even down 21-0, 28-0. When he got in there, he was so positive on the sideline, telling guys `We’ve got it, keep your head up, we’re going to be fine.’… That made me feel confident.”
**Sophomore receiver Mark Pope gave his thoughts on Perry after he heard the news, saying it’s important the team stays focused and comes away with a key division victory against UVA.
“We hope N’Kosi will do what he has to do, and we’ll help him do what he has to do,” Pope said. “It’s important for us to get a win.”
Working with Perry last week, Pope caught his first career TD pass against the Hokies on a crazy Hail Mary catch that was tipped to him as the clock ran out in the first half.
“They took Jeff (Thomas) out, coach told me to get in - Kosi said `Just take off,’ so I took off,” Pope said. “I was supposed to be behind Will (Mallory) but there were too many big guys, so I went to the front and the ball got there - I just caught it. I was really excited.”
Pope sat out the game prior vs. Central Michigan with a turf toe injury, and it’s something that could nag him the rest of the season.
“The toe is still tender, but I’m just playing through it,” Pope said. “I go to treatment every day, just treat it, go out and play.”
**Sophomore WR Dee Wiggins sees Perry as a player that has matured a lot in the past year since multiple public missteps had some questioning his desire to be an elite level QB.
“He’s been a great leader, a teammate - whenever someone makes a mistake he cracks down on us,” Wiggins said. “He’s been a leader, making sure he’s putting the team on his back.”
With Williams not quite 100%, Wiggins felt that starting Perry was the right move to give UM the best odds of topping the Cavaliers.
“It gives us a better opportunity to win,” Wiggins said. “All our quarterbacks are great - Jarren Williams is great with his arm strength and accuracy. So is Kosi too. He’s just going into the game with a new opportunity to win.”
How did he and the team take the news when they were informed about Perry getting the starting nod?
“It was a great reaction, everyone cheered him on,” Wiggins said. “I told him ‘Let’s go, put this team on your back, control what you can control.’”
With a new gunslinger under center for this week’s game, some of the Hurricanes’ wide receivers gave their take on what Perry brings to the table and how the offense might be different with #5 calling the shots, beginning with senior KJ Osborn.
“It doesn’t change the offense too much,” Osborn said. “Just some of the tendencies - obviously Kosi can get out of the pocket, has tremendous arm strength, it changes with the scrambles. He kind of reminds me of my quarterback (at Buffalo), Tyree Jackson… But other than that, the offense is the offense.”
Coming in off the bench down 21-0 last week, Perry led the Hurricanes all the way back to tie the game in the 4th quarter before the UM defense ceded a game-winning touchdown to the Virginia Tech Hokies. While Perry wasn’t able to leave the field with a win, he was able to gain his teammates’ confidence that he will never give up, even when faced with a steep deficit.
“What I saw on the sideline was his leadership,” Osborn said. “I saw him talking to guys even down 21-0, 28-0. When he got in there, he was so positive on the sideline, telling guys `We’ve got it, keep your head up, we’re going to be fine.’… That made me feel confident.”
**Sophomore receiver Mark Pope gave his thoughts on Perry after he heard the news, saying it’s important the team stays focused and comes away with a key division victory against UVA.
“We hope N’Kosi will do what he has to do, and we’ll help him do what he has to do,” Pope said. “It’s important for us to get a win.”
Working with Perry last week, Pope caught his first career TD pass against the Hokies on a crazy Hail Mary catch that was tipped to him as the clock ran out in the first half.
“They took Jeff (Thomas) out, coach told me to get in - Kosi said `Just take off,’ so I took off,” Pope said. “I was supposed to be behind Will (Mallory) but there were too many big guys, so I went to the front and the ball got there - I just caught it. I was really excited.”
Pope sat out the game prior vs. Central Michigan with a turf toe injury, and it’s something that could nag him the rest of the season.
“The toe is still tender, but I’m just playing through it,” Pope said. “I go to treatment every day, just treat it, go out and play.”
**Sophomore WR Dee Wiggins sees Perry as a player that has matured a lot in the past year since multiple public missteps had some questioning his desire to be an elite level QB.
“He’s been a great leader, a teammate - whenever someone makes a mistake he cracks down on us,” Wiggins said. “He’s been a leader, making sure he’s putting the team on his back.”
With Williams not quite 100%, Wiggins felt that starting Perry was the right move to give UM the best odds of topping the Cavaliers.
“It gives us a better opportunity to win,” Wiggins said. “All our quarterbacks are great - Jarren Williams is great with his arm strength and accuracy. So is Kosi too. He’s just going into the game with a new opportunity to win.”
How did he and the team take the news when they were informed about Perry getting the starting nod?
“It was a great reaction, everyone cheered him on,” Wiggins said. “I told him ‘Let’s go, put this team on your back, control what you can control.’”
