After Miami’s weekend win over UVA, head coach Manny Diaz reiterated his support for Jarren Williams as the starting QB in his Monday afternoon press conference and updated Williams’ injury status after the team practiced on Sunday.
“He has to prove he’s ready to go. If he’s not, we have all the faith in N’Kosi (Perry) to get it done,” Diaz said of Williams. “He did a little bit last night… He has to have confidence in himself that he’s back, back in prep mode. We’ll really find out Tuesday, because last night was just a light practice. We’ll see.”
According to Diaz, Williams was available vs. UVA for an unspecified situation.
“There was a package we could have used for Jarren, for Tate (Martell), for Carson Proctor,” Diaz said. “It was all depending on what was going on in the game and what we wanted to do.”
Martell was technically the backup QB against the Cavaliers, but is still working at WR as well.
“He is learning the nuance of playing wide receiver, but he’s a team guy, can take snaps at quarterback,” Diaz said of Martell. “Tate is enjoying being here, wants to be on a winning team and do whatever it takes to help us win.”
While UM took a day to enjoy the win, Diaz said the team came back Sunday focused on defeating Georgia Tech.
“Everybody feels good about the result Friday, the way we played, persevered, found a way to win in the fourth quarter, which we had not done to this point,” Diaz said. “When we came back yesterday, we put that game behind us, time to work on Georgia Tech.”
After a 6 tackle effort that also including a fumble recovery and a sack that helped end UVA’s final drive, CB Trajan Bandy was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week.
“Congratulations to Trajan who has been working hard and I thought played his best game Friday night,” Diaz said.
Diaz also pointed out S Bubba Bolden as someone that has played well in the secondary.
“He brings athleticism, understands (the defense),” Diaz said of Bolden. “Bubba has been a big shot in the arm for our defense.”
Diaz felt there was an uptick in defensive players showing leadership last week, singling out LB Shaq Quarterman, LB Mike Pinckney, CB Trajan Bandy and DE Jon Garvin as those that took it upon themselves to get the team focused.
“You have to have guys who demand accountability from others,” Diaz said. “Offensively that’s still coming.”
Speaking on the true freshmen, Diaz said WR Jeremiah Payton and TE Larry Hodges are in line for potential redshirts. Diaz sees guys like LB Sam Brooks and DE Jahfari Harvey as players they want to get more in-game experience because of the departures at those positions going into next season.
