On a blustery and drizzling Saturday morning, the University of Rhode Island football team showcased their talents to fans at Meade Stadium in their annual Blue-White Game where the defense came out on top of the offense, 42-31.
Formatted in four 10 minute quarters, with the second half on a running clock, the defense was spotted with a 28-0 lead before kickoff. Despite the offensive efforts throughout the intrasquad clash, several forced turnovers by the defense spelled the end for a very new offense.
“I say the same thing every year, when you see good on one side of the ball, you’re concerned with what happened on the other side of the ball,” Head Coach Jim Fleming said. “There were too many explosions if you look at it defensively, but they ran around and hit people. They went and got a pick in the endzone down in the red area… I’m pleased generally at the whole [game].”
The offense spent the scrimmage operating without a staple starting quarterback. After the graduation of seventh-year quarterback Kasim Hill after last season, the door for the new leader on offense was opened.
If the transgression of roles were to slide down the depth chart, the reins would be handed over to third-year Devin Farrell, who made brief appearances in the 2023 season. Farrell completed two passes on three attempts for 59 yards and a touchdown last year.
However, it was announced in early January 2024 that Rhody was adding a new QB to the room in fourth-year Hunter Helms. The Clemson University transfer created the ultimate offseason clash, the QB battle.
“All four quarterbacks came out and operated very well,” Fleming said. “Dev[in] has been running and doing some things, we saw his legs, he can run, he can throw. Hunter came in… he is really just learning for the first time [and] he really showed up… I’m excited by that, that’s gonna be really fun.”
Throughout the scrimmage, both quarterbacks showed flashes of promise, completing passes to a variety of different receivers. Helms completed 11 of 26 passes for 145 yards, though a red zone interception left a stain on the afternoon.
Farrell played more of a clean game with fewer attempts, going eight for 14 and 135 yards with a touchdown. Farrell was very pleased with the opportunity to compete in a quarterback battle.
“It’s amazing, I’ve been praying for this opportunity,” Farrell said. “I’ve been praying for this chance. It’s exciting, I’m loving every bit of it.”
Farrell also embraced the competition and said that he feels he is in charge of his own destiny.
“I learned throughout this whole process that it has to come from within,” Farrell said. “You can’t be driven by other people around you. Yeah [Helms] is there, he is my competition, but I’m my competition at the end of the day.”
Among all of the offensive uncertainties, there are a few staples from last season that are poised to make an impact in 2024. Second-year Marquis Buchanan sprinted onto the scene in his rookie campaign in 2023, as he reeled in 42 receptions for 638 yards and four touchdowns. Buchanan is set to be the number one receiving target for whoever is under center, and said he feels that he can help set a standard of consistency.
“I just have to keep running my routes,” Buchanan said. “I can get open and the QBs [can] just handle the rest. I just make plays on the outside.”
Another player who stood out for the Rams was third-year Jaden Griffin, who broke out a number of key plays from the backfield. Griffin was the fourth-ranked running back in rushing yards last season with 142. However, a change in role may be in order for Griffin in 2024.
Griffin dashed for 137 yards on only five carries, while also scoring two touchdowns in the scrimmage, one of which came as a 65-yard run.
“I’m very prepared,” Griffin said. “I’ve been grinding long days, long nights, early mornings. I’ve been grinding.”
Griffin also had an opinion on the new starting quarterback spot, and preached on looking towards the future, rather than gazing at the past.
“As of right now, we are just moving on,” Griffin said. “We all love Kasim, but right now we are focusing on the future. We [have] two good quarterbacks in front of us that have a lot of potential and we will go from there. Keep striving for greatness.”
In terms of when the battle will end, the decision is nowhere close to being made according to Fleming. The coaching staff want to examine both players throughout the preseason before making a final choice.
“You want a competitor, you want a winner and I think all of those kids in that room are about that,” Fleming said. “I know we’ve got tough decisions to make, that is what it really comes down to. No one will know here until we know, which will probably be the day before Holy Cross.”
The Rams are set to open their 2024 season when they take on the College of Holy Cross under the lights at Meade Stadium in front of their home crowd on Aug. 31.