Sports Update Monday: Freshman Kaaya to Start at QB in Miami’s First Game
A true freshman will lead the way. Finally, a week and a day before the University of Miami’s season opener at Louisville, Hurricanes coach Al Golden ended a “too-close-to-call” battle Sunday for the most important position in football. Brad Kaaya, 18 and fresh out of high school in Southern California, is the new starting quarterback for the Hurricanes. He will become UM’s first true freshman quarterback starter for an opener since Jacory Harris was anointed in 2008 when former quarterback Robert Marve was suspended.
Kaaya beat out Jake Heaps, 23, who left his high school in Sammamish, Washington, ranked the nation’s No. 1 pro-style quarterback. He played his first two years at BYU, spent the past two years at Kansas and transferred to UM this summer. Kaaya, who is 6-4 and 212 pounds, was an All-American at Chaminade College Preporatory in West Hills, California. He led Chaminade to a 23-3 record as a starter and threw for a school-record 3,855 yards during a state-championship senior season.
Golden said Kaaya “nudged” Heaps for the job, but he has been raving about the freshman since camp began Aug. 5. The announcement is even more impressive considering the freshman didn’t arrive on campus early enough to participate in spring football. What does this mean for Ryan Williams, the fifth-year senior who would have been the starter had he not torn his anterior cruciate ligament in April?
“As I said all along, that’s a medical issue right now,” Coach Golden said. “When it’s not a medical issue anymore and he can do everything that we need our quarterbacks to do, then we’ll look at it in every angle and see what’s best for our football team. But right now that’s not part of the equation. His health right now, his strength, his ability to rehab and return is paramount for him. Once he does that, we’ll evaluate the situation.”
Williams and Heaps were not available for comment Sunday. Per team policy, Kaaya will be made available after playing Louisville on Labor Day night. UM offensive coordinator James Coley said Kaaya’s “ability to see the entire field” separated him from Heaps.
The Kaaya news quickly spread among social media followers. Kaaya’s mother, Angela Means, posted on Twitter: #FromTheStartToTheStarter #GoBGo, with a photo of his 2002 Eagles youth football card. In the photo, Kaaya wore No. 15 — the same number he now wears for the Canes. The UM sports information office later posted a photo-shopped image with Kaaya’s name replacing “Calle” on the famous “Calle Ocho” street sign. Some even began posting photo-shopped images of “Kaaya the Messiah.”