Backup QB Freeman staying at Miami

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Kirby Freeman knows he could probably be a starting quarterback at any number of colleges.<br> <br> For now, he&#39;d rather remain the backup at Miami.<br> <br> Freeman said Friday he would continue playing with the Hurricanes, ending speculation that he has grown tired of being second-string behind Kyle Wright. He did consider transferring elsewhere, but the redshirt sophomore from Brownwood, Texas, ultimately decided that Miami is still his best fit.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s all on my shoulders now to prove ... that playing me is best for this football team,&#39;&#39; said Freeman, who was not guaranteed any additional playing time from Miami&#39;s coaching staff. ``Not necessarily to start, not necessarily to play a certain amount of time, but playing me in general.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Freeman&#39;s situation was a hot topic during Miami&#39;s spring practice season, which ended last weekend. He has never claimed to be unhappy at Miami, but acknowledged that his hopes of getting more playing time raised the possibility of leaving the Hurricanes.<br> <br> He appeared in nine games last season, completing 15 of 31 passes for 183 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Freeman also ran the ball eight times for 38 yards.<br> <br> ``He&#39;s a winner. He&#39;s a competitor,&#39;&#39; said Hurricanes coach Larry Coker, who met with Freeman on Thursday. ``And again, it&#39;s just a tremendous asset we have on our football team. ... What&#39;s best for this football team is for Kirby Freeman to be a part of it.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> If Wright who threw for 2,403 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2005 stays two more seasons and exhausts his eligibility, Freeman would have only one year to presumably be the Hurricanes&#39; starting quarterback.<br> <br> Still, Coker has often said Freeman&#39;s current role is one highly valued by Miami.<br> <br> When Wright was temporarily knocked out of the Hurricanes&#39; game at Virginia Tech last season, Freeman stepped in to finish a drive that produced Miami&#39;s first touchdown and helped set the tone for a 27-7 win.<br> <br> ``Selfishly speaking, having Kirby is a tremendous lift for our football team,&#39;&#39; Coker said. ``I&#39;m probably more excited about Kirby now than maybe I&#39;ve ever been.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> With Freeman staying, Miami should have three scholarship quarterbacks on the 2006 roster. Incoming freshman Daniel Stegall, of Greenwood, Ark., is set to join Freeman and Wright when the Hurricanes open camp this summer.<br> <br> Freeman&#39;s brother Colby transferred from Texas A to Abilene Christian in December 2000 in search of more playing time, and the move didn&#39;t work out well. Plus, Freeman and Wright even though they want the same job are extremely close, another factor in Freeman&#39;s decision to stay put.<br> <br> ``I know right now Kyle Wright&#39;s our starting quarterback,&#39;&#39; Freeman said. ``But it doesn&#39;t change the fact that I&#39;m going to work really hard, just as I have for the last 2.5 years. I&#39;m going to continue to try to prove myself and prove that I deserve a greater chance to play.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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