It appears that Jake Heaps’ desire to become Miami’s starting quarterback has seen the path cleared a bit.
While there has been no official confirmation from the school, Adam Kuperstein of NBC 6 in Miami is reporting that Kevin Olsen has been slapped with at least a one-game suspension. The reason behind the suspension? A failed drug test, Kuperstein reported.
The Palm Beach Post‘s Matt Porter wrote on Twitter that he has “heard rumblings about [an] Olsen suspension this week, but haven’t confirmed.” Porter also notes that Olsen was suspended for Miami’s bowl game last season for undisclosed reasons.
If the most recent report is accurate, Olsen would miss at least the season opener against Louisville on Labor Day, which also serves as the ACC opener for both teams.
It would also mean that, more than likely, Heaps would be the man under center. With Ryan Williams likely out until at least the beginning of October at the earliest with a torn ACL, Heaps and Olsen were expected to commence a battle in summer camp to replace Stephen Morris.
If Olsen’s status were in doubt, it could also bring a pair of true freshman -- Brad Kaaya and Malik Rosier -- into the mix, at least for a temporary backup job and perhaps a starting job if Heaps, a Kansas transfer, struggles the way he has throughout his career. Kaaya is the most touted of the two, a four-star member of UM’s 2014 recruiting class rated as the No. 8 pro-style quarterback in the country.
Rosier was a three-star member of The U’s most recent class, rated as the No. 20 dual-threat quarterback.