15 months ago, the competition to become the starting quarterback for the 2017 season was shaping up to be a battle. Brad Kaaya had long since made the decision to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL Draft, and the Detroit Lions selected him in the sixth round.
Malik Rosier— who was recruited in the same class as Kaaya— would redshirt in 2014 and become the primary backup in ‘15 and ‘16. The Mobile, Alabama native went 31-61 for 371 yards, 2 TD and 3 INT through his nine game appearances before last year— including one start at Duke.