Mario Cristobal shares Miami's QB plans for Virginia game

Miami suffered a serious setback on Saturday when a Tyler Van Dyke injury crippled the ‘Canes offense. The starting quarterback left a 45-21 loss to Duke in the second quarter following a sack, grabbing his right shoulder.

Van Dyke was taken to the locker room and brought in for X-rays to determine the extent of his injury. He did not return. If Van Dyke is unable to play Saturday on the road at Virginia, the Hurricanes will turn to his backup. Coach Mario Cristobal did not have an update on Van Dyke’s status Monday.

“It would be Jake (Garcia) first,” Cristobal said. “It would be Jake first.”

Garcia has played in relief of Van Dyke at various points this season, though it hasn’t always gone well. Saturday’s relief appearance against the Blue Devils was a disaster, though the wheels began coming off for the ‘Canes well before Garcia entered the game.

The backup quarterback finished 13-of-21 passing for 198 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions and fumbled twice in the loss.

On the season, Garcia has gone 32-of-49 passing for 470 yards and two touchdowns, with three interceptions. Saturday’s outing against Duke was his largest workload, though he also threw 19 passes in a loss against MTSU.

Miami’s QB plans put Jacurri Brown in backup role

Assuming Van Dyke is unable to play against Virginia and Garcia is forced to start, freshman quarterback Jacurri Brown will become the primary backup. Brown has not yet thrown a pass this season.

Brown has been used occasionally as an athlete, logging five carries for 26 yards so far this season. He also has one catch for nine yards.

“Jacurri (Brown)’s done a great job,” Cristobal said. “Jacurri’s posturing himself for a great future here at the University of Miami. I think you guys have seen his ability to run. You haven’t quite seen his ability to throw the ball. He’s a really good passer, realy good quarterback.”

Miami will travel to Virginia for a game that kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday streaming on ESPN+.