Miami Hurricanes News and Notes: Looking forward to North Carolina, Miami’s new quarterback and some eye-popping stats for a few Hurricanes.

** Miami is bringing out the Miami Nights jersey for Thursday nights matchup with North Carolina (1-2, 1-0 in ACC). It will be the Hurricanes first taste of ACC play in 2018. If you plan on attending the game WEAR BLACK and BE LOUD. Kickoff is at 8:00 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN. Here is some game day information for you directly from The U:

**North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora indicated that Nathan Elliott will remain the starter for the Tar Heels over Chazz Surratt, who will be coming off a suspension. Elliot is completing 56.7% of his passes and has three touchdowns and four interceptions on the year.

**The Tar Heels are averaging 24.7 points per game and allowing 33.3 points per game.

** Malik Rosier was benched by N’Kosi Perry after two bland drives to open up the game against FIU this past Saturday. Perry came into a scoreless game and scored touchdowns in his first two drives under center. The first came on a 35-yard run by Hurricanes running back Travis Homer. The second was a beautifully placed throw to Lawrence Cager over the middle that led to a 26-yard touchdown.

It is abundantly clear that Perry is taking over the reigns at quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes going forward. It has been reported that Perry took all the first-team reps on Sunday and Monday.

** Perry ignited the offense in ways that Rosier has not. For example, Brevin Jordan has 12 catches for 119 yards and three touchdowns on the year. 11 of those catches came when Perry was at quarterback, including a dime up the seam for a touchdown in the first half of Saturday’s game vs. FIU.

Mike Harley has been just a guy in this offense throughout his tenure here. On Saturday, Perry hit Harley seven times for 76 yards. Perry has a knack for getting the ball to his playmakers.

He has also developed a strong connection with senior wide out Lawrence Cager on the field. Cager has caught three of Perry’s six touchdown passes on the year.

** Perry has the advantage from a numbers standpoint as well. To be fair, Perry hasn’t faced a defense of LSU’s caliber as Rosier has, but there is an astonishing difference in completion percentage. Perry is completing 66.7% of his passes while Rosier is completing just 52.1%. Perry has just 12 less completed passes despite attempting 34 less passes than Rosier.

I always believed that if the competition was close, you let the younger guy play. Perry could potentially be the Hurricanes starting quarterback for the next four years. Why hold him back if he is ready right now? It is not a knock at Rosier. I can’t say I am his biggest fan, but I am certainly not his biggest hater. I just believe the time has come for the torch to be passed down.

**In other news, Gerald Willis III is tied for the nations lead in tackles for loss (10) and Jonathan Garvin is ranked sixth (8.5). The only player that Miami will see in 2018 that is currently ranked in the top 50 in tackles for loss is Boston College’s Wyatt Ray who has gathered 6.5 tackles for loss of his own.

**Manny Diaz’s unit has allowed opponents to covert on third down on just 17.5% of their attempts which leads the nation.

** Brevin Jordan is one of five tight ends and one of four true freshman in the nation to have three or more receiving touchdowns on the year. Jordan already has more receiving yards than Mike Gesicki, Penn State’s all-time leading receiver at tight end, had as a freshman and is just six yards away from surpassing his receiveing yardage as a sophomore. Jordan can easily become one of the greatest tight ends in University of Miami history at this pace.

Last but not least

** Miami/FSU kickoff time has been put on a six-day hold. The announcement will likely come after Florida State’s game against Louisville. The two options are at 3:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. on either ABC or ESPN. The Hurricanes host the Seminoles October 6.