Mario Cristobal expresses confidence in Emory Williams, Jacurri Brown as backup quarterbacks

2022 was a frustrating season for Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes. A big reason why it was such a challenge was the injuries that starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke suffered, throwing backups into key roles in the offense.

Ahead of the 2023 season, Cristobal believes that the Hurricanes have a deeper quarterback room behind Van Dyke and is confident with his young, backup quarterbacks.

“I love the fact — okay, we haven’t talked about it much that both Emory [Williams] and Jacurri [Brown] have stepped up big time,” Mario Cristobal said. “Where those guys have shown that they can play winning football.”

Emory Williams is a true freshman who joined the Hurricanes as a member of the Class of 2023. According to the On3 Industry Rankings, he was a three-star recruit. For his part, Jacurri Brown is now a sophomore after playing eight games his freshman year. A four-star recruit in the 2022 cycle, Brown completed 60 percent of his passes for 230 yards while throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions. He even rushed 53 times, more than the number of pass attempts he had, for 221 yards.

Both of these quarterbacks will back up Tyler Van Dyke, but they also give Mario Cristobal confidence for the future at Miami.

“Their grasp of the offense, their ownership of our scheme, and their just continual — just their approach to the game is continuing to take steps. It continues to elevate, which makes you feel good about the present, God forbid there’s a situation, and makes you feel really good about the future as well.”

Ultimately, Cristobal knows that he needs to protect his quarterbacks better in 2023 by improving the offensive line. Recently, he raved about that rebuilt offensive line.

“It starts with a guy that has his hands on the ball on every single snap, and Matt Lee embodies everything you want in a center; tremendous confidence because he’s earned it through work. And because he knows what he’s doing, how to do it, and why we’re doing it that way. And he holds those other guys accountable,” Cristobal said.

“You add a guy like Javion Cohen, who’s had 20-plus starts in the SEC and one of the better guards in that conference with a returning starter in Jalen Rivers and a guy like Anez Cooper, and then you throw in Francis [Mauigoa] and Samson [Okunlola]. It’s exciting.”

Mario Cristobal confirmed Tyler Van Dyke is practicing at full speed

After his injury-riddled 2022 season last year, there have been concerns about Tyler Van Dyke’s health going into the 2023 season. However, Mario Cristobal recently insisted that Van Dyke is practicing at full speed.

“I know there’s been a lot of buzz about Tyler Van Dyke and him being injured,” Cristobal said. “Tyler’s been practicing at full speed. I think you guys reported something relative [to] him missing practice, and him and a couple of guys were due to camp. But he’s 100% and has been practicing with our team.”