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Malik Rosier named Miami's starting QB, Pitt going with USC transfer Max Browne

Miami quarterback Malik Rosier performs drills at the <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/" data-ylk="slk:NCAA college football;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">NCAA college football</a> team’s Media Day in Coral Gables, Fla., Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (AP)
Miami quarterback Malik Rosier performs drills at the NCAA college football team’s Media Day in Coral Gables, Fla., Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (AP)

Quarterback competitions are coming to a close in the ACC.

The day after Clemson made the decision to start junior Kelly Bryant in its opener, Miami and Pittsburgh also announced they will go with veteran options at the position.

At Miami, coach Mark Richt announced Tuesday morning that he has named Malik Rosier the team’s starting quarterback. Rosier, a redshirt junior, beat out redshirt sophomore Evan Shirreffs and freshmen N’Kosi Perry and Cade Weldon for the top spot on the depth chart.

“Malik has been named the starting quarterback,” Richt said. “Evan (Shirreffs) is currently No. 2 on the depth chart. The young guys, N’Kosi Perry and Cade Weldon, will continue to learn and compete.”

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Rosier has appeared in 13 games during his time at Miami, including one start. During that span, he completed 31-of-61 passes for 360 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. In his lone start — a win over Duke in 2015 (the one that ended on that crazy kickoff return) — he completed 20-of-29 passes for 272 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

The 6-foot-1, 216-pound Rosier also has 63 career rushing yards, including a 19-yard touchdown run against Florida A&M last fall.

Rosier was the favorite to land the starting job entering fall camp, and he managed to fight off Perry, a highly touted freshman, for now. Miami opens against FCS Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 2 before a road game against Arkansas State the following week. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Perry receive some action in those games before a big Week 3 matchup at Florida State.

At Pittsburgh, Pat Narduzzi unsurprisingly named Max Browne the Panthers’ starter. Browne, a fifth-year senior, is a graduate transfer from USC.

Browne began the 2016 season as USC’s starting quarterback, but was replaced by redshirt freshman Sam Darnold after a 1-2 start. Darnold had a breakout season, and Browne understandably decided to leave the program. He selected Pitt as his transfer destination in December and participated in spring practice.

Former USC quarterback Max Browne landed at Pitt as a graduate transfer. (AP)
Former USC quarterback Max Browne landed at Pitt as a graduate transfer. (AP)

Browne, who threw for 474 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 63.2 percent of his passes in three starts, hopes to follow the blueprint of Nate Peterman at Pitt. Peterman, who transferred from Tennessee, revived his career and was a fifth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills.

Pitt, coming off an 8-5 record in 2016, opens its season at home against Youngstown State before two tough non-conference games at Penn State and at home against Oklahoma State.

For more Miami news, visit CaneSport.com.

For more Pittsburgh news, visit Panther-lair.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!