The lack of production from the wide receiver corps on the Miami football team hindered their offense in 2019. With their most productive WR graduated to the NFL, the Hurricanes need someone to step-up in 2020.
Graduate transfer wide receiver K.J. Osborn led the Miami football team in 2019 with 50 receptions, 547 yards and five touchdowns. With Osborn on to the NFL, the Hurricanes need someone to emerge as a go-to receiver in 2020. The most likely WR to increase production for Miami in 2020 is senior Mike Harley.
Harley leads the returnees for the Miami football team with 38 receptions, his 485 receiving yards and three TDs are second on the Hurricanes returnees from 2019. The question for 2020 is who behind Harley can become consistent enough to trust graduate transfer quarterback D’Eriq King.
It is time for juniors Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins to be consistent weekly. Pope and Wiggins are the favorites to start as the outside WRs in 2020 with Harley in the slot. Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Payton who was reportedly outstanding on the scout team in 2019 is expected to push Pope and Wiggins.
Pope had a huge jump in production from his freshman season in 2018 to last year. As a freshman, Pope had just one reception for 11 yards and one carry for four yards without a TD. During his 2019 sophomore season, Pope increased those numbers to 18 receptions for 266 yards and two TDs and three carries for 23 yards.
If Pope has the same increase in 2020 as he did from 2018 to 2019 the Miami offense will benefit greatly. Pope has not had more than two receptions or 45 yards receiving in a game against a Group of Five opponent. His highs against Group of Five teams came against Virginia Tech last season with two receptions for 45 yards.