There is one factor I think a lot of us have been overlooking in this QB race, and that's the trust factor. Whoever ends up being our starting QB is going to be the face of this team. They're going to be the leader, the guy whom the coaches are literally giving the keys to, and ultimately the single most important playmaker that'll determine whether we succeed or flounder. That's a big weight for any player, especially those with a less consistent record off the field.
In looking at this factor, it's clear that N'Kosi Perry has had a lot of groundwork to make up. Before Manny became HC, by all accounts, N'Kosi was clowning around here for two years. He built up a massive trust deficit with the last coaching staff and inherited that deficit with the new one. Make no mistake, N'Kosi has made a good effort to use this clean slate to start anew, and he hasn't caused any trouble off the field and by all accounts is working much harder.
I'm not an insider, or guy with sources, but I do have a few friends that were plugged into UM's greek life and party scene over the past two years. N'Kosi was a regular, to say the least, and we all know his off the fieldwork ethic and conduct wasn't great until El Jefe established a new order. All college students party, but as a potential starting QB for the Canes, N'Kosi didn't hold himself to the higher standard needed. N'Kosi's made a ton of progress on and off the field, and he could very well be our starter on 8/24, but until he consistently proves otherwise there's always going to be that fear that he'll revert to bad conduct. He has to put in an extra level of work to overcome that trust deficit he built over two years. Considering talent, if N'Kosi can put it all together, he'll be deadly. Winning best QB of spring is a great start.
Jarren William's doesn't have the same off the field history as N'Kosi. While he was suspended last year, we all know that he didn't have a chance to show anything on the field. That kills a QB's confidence. No matter how bad Malik or N'Kosi played, or how well he did in practice, he knew he didn't have a shot to start regardless. At that point, there was no incentive to practice hard, prepare for games, or meet a high standard of work. El Jefe's clean slate has definitely helped him as well, as we know his conditioning's gotten better and he had a good spring. He doesn't have the trust deficit N'Kosi has, which is a major bonus for him in this QB competition.
Then there's Tate. By all accounts, he hasn't had any off the field issues that we know about. Of all the QB's, per the insiders here, on twitter, and on other sites, he's also the QB that put in the most work post-spring (weight room, film, working on his mechanics, etc.). When it comes to meeting expectations and the level of conduct expected of a UM starting QB, he fits the bill. He also has a bit of experience and exposure when it comes to the media, as he's got 148,000 followers on Twitter and 222,000 followers on Instagram. With all of his hype and pedigree from high school to now, he's never been a clown, gotten in trouble, or been suspended. That's a huge boon for his chances to be our long term starting QB. Manny won't have to worry about him doing something stupid if the team starts rolling.
Overall, Tate is in the best position when it comes to the trust factor. Jarren has a clean slate and had minimal bad conduct last year, so he isn't in a bad spot as well. N'Kosi did have a trust deficit pre-Manny, but he's done a lot of work to change that storyline and he should be commended for it. Nevertheless, he needs to keep that consistency off the field because a few months of doing what you're supposed to does not entirely erase two bad years. Ultimately, our starting QB on 8/24 is going to be the guy that gives our offense the best chance to succeed against the gators. Nevertheless, especially in the long term, it's vital to our staff that our QB has the poise, maturity, and off the field work ethic to be the next starting QB at the U.
