Mario Cristobal assesses Jacurri Brown's first-half performance in first career start vs Georgia Tech

Miami turned to another option at quarterback on Saturday, rolling out true freshman Jacurri Brown for the Hurricanes’ game against Georgia Tech. Starter Tyler Van Dyke is still injured and backup Jake Garcia has struggled when he’s been on the field, meaning it’s Brown’s turn under center.

Mario Cristobal saw some good things in Brown’s first half as the starter as the Hurricanes took a 14-7 lead into the locker room.

“Just a lot of poise,” Cristobal told ESPN+’s Wiley Ballard. “He’s not fazed by the noise, by the crowd. He’s a competitor. Relentless.”

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Brown had an efficient first two quarters, completing 7 of 10 passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns. But Miami’s offense was led by the running game as the Hurricanes totaled 138 yards on the ground, led by 76 yards from Jaylan Knighton.

Cristobal said Brown and his dual-threat ability — taking 11 carries for 47 yards — helped open up the run game early on.

“The combination of the quarterback playing well and him presenting issues with the way he runs the ball, as well as our offensive line doing a better job,” Cristobal said of why the run game saw success in the first half.

Brown arrived in South Beach as a four-star recruit and was the No. 18-ranked quarterback prospect from the class of 2022, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Tyler Van Dyke, Henry Parrish out for Miami’s game against Georgia Tech

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will not suit up today for Miami due to a shoulder injury he’s been dealing with since the Duke game. He left that game in the middle of it following a sack where he landed on said shoulder. Then, last week he gave it a go but had to come out again.

Now, this week, the situation has only gotten worse, and he’s out.

“Sources: Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke is out today against Georgia Tech with a shoulder injury,” Thamel tweeted Saturday morning. “The injury has lingered, as he left the FSU game last week with the injury and missed Miami’s game against Virginia.”