Miami Hurricanes quarterback D’Eriq King has been mentioned in the top five Heisman Trophy candidates. It was surprising 247Sports placed King as the 11th ranked QB for the 2020 season.
D’Eriq King transferring from Houston to join the Miami Hurricanes football program for the 2020 season provides a huge upgrade at the position. Miami has not had a QB as adept as King since Brad Kaaya left following the 2016 season for the NFL. King provides Miami with a skill set at QB that has not been seen in program history.
King was ranked as the 11th best QB in the country in 2020 by 247Sports. The graduate transfer played the first four games with Houston in 2019 before deciding to redshirt. King’s initial intention was to return to Houston, but in early January he made the decision to transfer and announced Miami shortly after that.
King provides the Miami Hurricanes with the perfect dual-threat QB to run the new uptempo, spread offense being installed by new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. King will have tight ends Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory, running Cam’Ron Harris and wide receiver Mike Harley to work with.
After those four Miami is mostly inexperienced at the skill positions on offense. WRs Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins showed potential in 2019, but they have to produce on a more consistent basis. Redshirt freshman WR Jeremiah Payton has big-play potential to work with King and is expected to push Pope and Wiggins.
"11. D’ERIQ KING, MIAMICareer numbers: 369-of-597, 4,930 yards passing, 50 TDs, 10 INTs; 1,421 yards rushing, 28 TDsThe word: King did a little bit of everything at Houston, starring at wide receiver early in his career before a full-time transition to quarterback where he truly showcased his ability. A huge get for Miami, King gives the Hurricanes a justifiable playmaker at a position of need.At the time of his meniscus injury in 2018 with the Cougars, King was leading college football with 50 total touchdowns (36 pass, 14 rush) as an unstoppable dual-threat.He decided to redshirt last season after Houston’s 1-3 start after throwing for 663 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 312 yards and six scores."
With Lashlee calling plays the new offense being set up King should be much higher on the 247 list by the end of the season. King should battle with North Carolina QB Sam Howell to be the best QB in the ACC Coastal Division. Howell is ranked fourth in 247’s list of best QBs in the nation for the 2020 season.
Ironically Shane Buechele of SMU is 10th, one spot ahead of King. Lashlee coached Buechele who was a transfer from Texas while the offensive coordinator of the Mustangs last season. King will provide a lot of thrills and excitement for Miami from the QB position in 2020. The Hurricanes have never had a QB as dynamic as King.