They arrived in Coral Gables three wide-eyed freshmen unsure of what the future would hold for them, individually and as a group.
They’d each verbally committed to one coach and now, would find themselves playing for another. And months later, after the Hurricanes defense had undergone some unexpected changes, they found themselves pressed into duty, called upon as freshmen to try and anchor a unit looking to re-establish itself under the new regime of coach Mark Richt and his defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
That uncertain stretch in 2016 was, for Shaq Quarterman, Mike Pinckney and Zach McCloud, trial by fire; a harsh introduction into the reality of big-time college football.