Miami’s future QB Jacurri Brown has ‘spider senses’ and a motor. He’s practicing patience
Miami Hurricanes freshman quarterback Jacurri Brown, 18 and just a few months out of high school, looked really good when spring football began in March.
By late last week, two days before Saturday’s spring game, he looked exceptional — so much so that Canes coach Mario Cristobal, who won’t give praise unless it’s warranted, said Brown was “impressive in everything he did.’’
Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, who was equally effusive, said Brown’s development had taken off “to another level” before quickly adding that “for a quarterback, game reps matter” and “you gotta get it out there when the pieces are flying full speed.”
On Saturday, the Hurricanes were flying full speed at the spring game, and even if Brown’s limited opportunities yielded meager numbers, his agility and elusiveness were evident. The big-bodied, muscular quarterback, 6-4, 210-pounds-and-growing, got in multiple drives and finished 3 of 6 for 15 yards — with an interception that caromed off the arms of defensive tackle Jake Lichtenstein into the hands of safety James Williams. He also fumbled on a strip sack by fellow early enrollee Cyrus Moss.
Because of the turnovers and the fact that officials called the play dead every time defenders got close to the sprinting, agile teenager, Brown garnered only 1 net yard on a handful of runs. But his legs (and for the past month, his arm) have shown that he might be utilized in the near future by the Hurricanes.
“He is definitely a weapon and a threat to the defense,” backup quarterback Jake Garcia said Saturday. “He threw a ball two days ago in practice. I looked at him and I was like, ‘Bro, how did you throw that?’ It was like an off-platform, movement throw, and he just launched it. He has a cannon on him. He has a cannon on him, and he has some legs that move pretty fast.”
How important would it be for Brown to see some action this season, which begins Sept. 3 at home against Bethune-Cookman?
‘Spider senses’
“That would be amazing,’’ Brown said on Thursday. “I gotta earn that, though. From my standpoint, I’d rather earn that. If I do, I just gotta go and execute. ...Right now, everybody is good. Everybody is a four-star, five-star, so I’ve got to develop as a passer more. I feel like I have spider senses a little bit. When I feel somebody, I want to leave.
“Being a freshman, [you’re] kind of jittery, but once you get those reps over the summer [and] throw with player-led practices and work through fall camp, I should be great.’’
Brown came to UM from Valdosta, Georgia, a four-star prospect who led the Lowndes High Vikings this past season to a 10-3 record. His senior passing numbers in 13 games: 136 of 242 for 2,165 yards and 23 touchdowns, with only three interceptions. His senior rushing numbers: 882 yards and 10 touchdowns on 174 carries for a 5.1-yards-per-carry average.
His career numbers in four seasons: 5,552 yards passing with 51 touchdowns and 17 interceptions; and 4,205 yards rushing (6.3-yard average) with 54 touchdowns.
Brown said his goals are to “get better every day” and to keep learning from starter Tyler Van Dyke and Garcia. He noted that UM great Bernie Kosar, who has been at Hurricanes practices multiple times this spring, told him recently, “Be patient.’’
Patience pays
“All those old guys, they always come up and it’s like, ‘OK, [regarding the] transfer portal, be patient.’ You had Bernie here and you had Steve Walsh and... Vinny Testaverde ...You really gotta be patient. And just embrace it.”
Gattis acknowledged Brown’s impressive stature and called him “a leader.”
“He takes the offense by command,’’ Gattis said. “He’s a really good athlete. He’s got a great arm on him. [Quarterbacks] Coach Ponce has done an unbelievable job developing him. This summer is going to be very important.”
Brown appears to have keen self awareness and maturity.
“Obviously, I’m not ready to play now,’’ Brown said. “So, obviously I’m going to develop myself and be the best man I can be. Once I get to that point, then it’s time to compete.’’
