THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - A few weeks ago, Miami backup quarterback Jacory Harris now acknowledges, he wasn't completely convinced that the Hurricanes' plan to have two players splitting time under center this year would work.
He's a believer now.
One of the dominant themes for Miami this season is to play freshmen at many positions, building depth that simply wasn't there a season ago. And Harris - Florida's top high school player in 2007, leading Miami Northwestern to its second straight state Class 6A title - is experiencing life as a backup for the first time, spending most of game days watching redshirt freshman Robert Marve run the Hurricanes' offense.
He won't mind being in that role again Saturday, when Miami (2-1, 0-0) opens Atlantic Coast Conference play against North Carolina (2-1, 0-1).
"I'm starting to get more comfortable with it," said Harris, who was 30-0 as a high school starter and was one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks in the country a year ago. "At first, I was kind of like, 'Dang, will I ever have a chance to really get into a groove, or will I make one mistake and then not be able to showcase my skills again?'
"But now I'm realizing, it's best for the team, and whatever the team needs, I'm a team player."
Harris made a quick impression this season, completing 16 of 26 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown, plus running for a 30-yard score, in Miami's 52-7 win against Charleston Southern in Week 1 - a game Marve missed while serving a one-game suspension that stemmed from a misdemeanor arrest last October.
Marve assumed the starting reins the next week against Florida, then put up big numbers last weekend in Miami's 41-23 win at Texas A&M.
Harris, meanwhile, was only 2-of-4 in limited action for 10 yards against Florida, then 4-of-7 for 27 yards against Texas A&M, and not everyone in his inner circle can understand why he isn't getting more time.
When friends ask, Harris tries set them straight.
"A lot of people question why I'm not playing as much," Harris said. "But I always tell them, Robert is a good kid. Robert is a good athlete and a good quarterback. Coming into the season, when coach was talking about who was going to start and things like that, in the back of my mind, I knew (offensive coordinator Patrick Nix) had prepared either one of us that whoever got the job, he'd lead this team to a great season."
Against Florida, the Hurricanes entered the game with a good idea of when they'd insert Harris into the lineup, but against Texas A&M, Harris was pressed into action without warning. Marve took a shot while completing a pass with 10:39 left in the half, headed to the sideline to recover, and Harris scrambled to find his helmet and get ready to play.
"I was nervous," Harris said.
It showed.
He badly missed receiver Sam Shields on his first play, then settled down and drove Miami to the Texas A&M 3, eventually settling for a field goal.
"I know the coaches have faith in me and I know I'll be used in the offense more, sooner or later," Harris said. "I'm going out there and doing what I have to do. If they tell me go out there and hand the ball off, I'll go out there and hand the ball off. Whatever the team needs to win, that's what I want to do."
He and Marve are good friends, which makes the situation easier for both to handle.
"We talk about it all the time," said Marve, who was 16-of-22 for 212 yards and two touchdowns against Texas A&M. "We really don't care about the situation, as long as we're winning games as a team, as long as we feel like we're both playing good. I'm not surprised. Jacory's a great quarterback and to have us helping each other, overall, it helps the quarterback position."
Miami was stung last year by a quarterback controversy, as Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman flip-flopped in the first-string role, and the team clearly suffered because of the revolving door at the position.
This year, Miami coach Randy Shannon says it's a far different approach. He insists both will play every game, though has made it clear Marve is the starter.
"They've done phenomenal," Shannon said. "They've done everything we've asked."
