CORAL GABLES - Freshman Kyle Wright won't get into Miami's quarterback mix this season, but he probably will get a shot at supplanting Brock Berlin and Derrick Crudup in the spring.
The Hurricanes rave about Wright's arm strength and the progress he has made this season, though he mostly has played with the scout team.
Berlin threw 14 interceptions and fumbled three times before getting benched Monday. Crudup, a three-year backup, will start Saturday against Syracuse.
Coach Larry Coker said Berlin might play, depending on how Crudup performs.
"I'm disappointed that I put Coach Coker in this position to make this change," Berlin said. "It's disappointing for me. I don't want to be on the bench, but I'll go with Coach Coker's move and I'm behind him all the way."
Even if Crudup plays well in the final three games for No.14 Miami, Coker probably will open up the starting job in the spring.
The 6-foot-4 Wright was widely considered the nation's top high school quarterback last year. As a senior at Danville (Calif.) Monte Vista, he completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,825 yards and 37 touchdowns and four pickoffs.
FORGETFUL DROP: Tight end Kevin Everett will start for leading receiver Kellen Winslow against the Orangemen. Winslow was benched for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in as many games.
The start will be a chance for Everett to forget a drop against Virginia Tech on Nov.1. He was alone in the end zone in the second quarter but dropped a perfect pass from holder Matt Carter on a fake field goal.
Instead of tying the score at 7 and having momentum, the Hurricanes were beaten 31-7.
"I don't really want to speak too much on that because I'm still trying to forget about that," said Everett, who has five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.
FAN SUPPORT: Offensive lineman Eric Winston ripped Miami fans this week for booing Berlin during Saturday's 10-6 loss to Tennessee. Winston said fans jeered Berlin nearly every time he took the field.
"The fans are pretty pathetic," he said. "I'm not happy with them. I could care less if they're there. Booing a guy coming out to start the game. After one series, booing the guy. I would rather have 10,000 loyal fans out that want to stick with us than 60,000 fans that don't know what the heck's going on. I'm tired of this. It's stupid. It's like we're playing at a visiting stadium every week.
"There's no support out there. No one wants to help us out. If they're going to be like that, stay home, don't come out there."
ET CETERA: Cornerback Glenn Sharpe, guard Vernon Carey and defensive tackles Orien Harris and Santonio Thomas likely will not play Saturday. ... The school will honor the 1983 national championship team. Several players from that squad will run through the tunnel before the game and be introduced on the field.
