New QB D’Eriq King choose Miami football largely due to new OC Rhett Lashlee
In a conversation with Miami Herald sports columnist Barry Jackson, Houston football radio analyst Ted Pardee said that graduate transfer quarterback D’Eriq King choose the Miami football program largely because of Hurricanes’ new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.
Ted Pardee the radio analyst on the Houston football games extensively discussed new graduate transfer quarterback D’Eriq King with Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. King joins the Miami football program with the expectation that working with new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee will upgrade the Hurricanes offense.
Pardee is the son of College Football Hall of Famer, former head coach of the Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, Houston Cougars and legendary Junction Boy Jack Pardee. Jack Pardee was one of the early adopters of the run and shoot. The run and shoot was in many ways a precursor to the spread and air raid offenses.
Pardee also coached the Houston Gamblers in the USFL where his offense was led by University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly. Ted Pardee is the middle of three generations of Houston Cougars. Ted’s son Payton played wide receiver for Houston from 2015-18.
Ted Pardee told Jackson he was surprised that King chose the Miami football program and Lashlee and over Arkansas and Kendall Briles. Briles is heading into his first season at Arkansas after a mostly failed year at Florida State. Ted told Jackson that Payton spoke to King last week and thought he would sign with Arkansas.
"“He said he really liked coach Lashlee a lot. My son, last week, thought for sure D’Eriq was going to Arkansas [where Kendal Briles now works after a season at FSU].”"
King received some pushback when he decided to redshirt last season after Houston started 1-3. In 2018 the NCAA instituted a new rule that allows college football players to maintain eligibility and redshirt if they play four games or less during a season. Pardee discussed some of what happened.
"“Within the team, it was tough…(t)here was a little of bit initial hurt feelings with some of the seniors, some turmoil but it eventually smoothed out. One of our receivers, Keith Corbin, did that as well with a redshirt. But the players all rallied behind D’Eriq, and it turned out OK, because he said he wasn’t going anywhere.”"
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In spite of the sentiments released from those close to the Houston football program, there were many skeptics nationwide. A lot of that was led by ESPN College Football analyst Joey Galloway who thought it was terrible for college football but stated that King chose to sit out the right way. King was lauded as a trendsetter.