Freshman sensation Dereon Coleman is packing on muscle and flashing dual-threat dominance, challenging the depth chart to secure a pivotal role in the Miami Hurricanes' future quarterback rotation.
MIAMI, Fla. – It’s no secret who is the Miami Hurricanes’ starting quarterback.
Duke transfer Darian Mensah secured the job before arriving at the Coral Gables campus. However, the rest of the depth chart is up for grabs. Redshirt freshman Luke Nickel is the projected backup quarterback, but Dereon Coleman could make it a close race.
The Lakeland native is a freshman who recently attended Jones High School in Orlando. In three seasons, he completed 526 of 737 passes (71.4 percent) and threw for 8,559 yards and 74 touchdowns, including 14 interceptions, in 44 total games, according to MaxPreps. Coleman improved as a dual-threat quarterback. As a high school senior, he rushed 114 times for 762 yards and scored five touchdowns himself.
Despite his arm talent and being a three-star recruit, the main concern with Coleman has been size. Before enrolling, he was listed at six feet and 165 pounds. Afterwards, the Hurricanes measured Coleman at 6-1 and 175 pounds. Earlier this week, the players had a media day photoshoot. It appears that Coleman added extra muscle during the summer.
Erving Young, Victor Ishmael, Nick Tulloch, Houston Owens, and Johnny Jordan are members of the program’s strength and conditioning staff.
Although the Hurricanes’ main goal is to win the National Championship, Coleman’s development will be critical for the future. If he manages to secure the backup quarterback role, it increases the chances of playing on the field. The Hurricanes have the talent on both sides, plus the schedule isn’t very impressive, to put away opponents and allow Coleman to take some snaps.
The 19-year-old will need to beat Nickel and redshirt sophomore Judd Anderson.
Mario Cristobal stated at the ACC’s Kickoff Media Day that he’s confident in the quarterback room moving forward. Assuming Mensah secures first-round NFL projections and declares, Coleman being this season’s backup gives him a head start to start next year.
The transfer portal could be an option Nickel and Anderson explore, similar to Emory Williams last fall.
Although Cristobal won’t pass up on opportunities, sticking to what’s established appears to be the priority moving forward. Coleman was recruited by Hurricanes offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Shannon Dawson. He has a knack for finding talent on the high school recruiting trail, but putting them on the field has been a different story, mainly because of the transfer portal.
Coleman could be the first to benefit from the Hurricanes’ shift.
