A lack of maturity from Miami Hurricanes quarterbacks in 2019 resulted in a 6-7 record. Head coach Manny Diaz says the Hurricanes QBs are more mature entering 2020.
The quarterback play for the Miami Hurricanes in 2019 was inconsistent ending with a dismal performance in the 14-0 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl. Jarren Williams and N’Kosi Perry split time at QB in 2019. Williams transferred after the season and Miami added D’Eriq King to provide more experience.
The addition of King to the Miami Hurricanes roster as a graduate transfer from Houston greatly upgrades the leadership, experience and maturity the Hurricanes should have in the quarterback room in 2020. Perry is a year older and wiser with 19 starts in his career entering his redshirt junior season.
Tate Martell adds another fourth-year player in the Miami QB unit with redshirt freshman Peyton Matocha and true freshman Tyler VanDyke completing the scholarship quarterbacks Miami has on their roster. Perry and Martell if they do not decide to move on as graduate transfers should compete to be the starter in 2021.
VanDyke is likely to redshirt in 2020 and be in the mix with Martell and Perry in 2021. Matocha is expected to be on the roster to add depth throughout his college career. The addition of King for Miami should transform the Hurricanes offense on and off the field in 2020. Manny Diaz spoke to The Athletic about the Miami QBs.
Highest-graded QB in goal-to-go situations in the last two seasons:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 24, 2020
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson ('19)
2. D'Eriq King, Houston ('18) pic.twitter.com/qlRQuKaPF8
"“It’s a different room, for sure — the maturity level…You add D’Eriq, who has a very mature spirit about him. N’Kosi (Perry) is a year older, and he’s had an outstanding spring semester, really. His off-the-field accountability was the best it’s ever been. Obviously, a guy like Tate (Martell) is a year older.(Freshman) Tyler Van Dyke is a very mature soul in that room. It does feel like a different room. (offensive coordinator) Rhett (Lashlee) connects very well with those guys.”"
The hiring of offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee to transform the Miami offense into one that is more player-friendly should have the confidence level for the Hurricanes QBs and thus help them mature more. Lashlee’s up-tempo, spread offensive relies more on a players ability to make plays than complicated route trees.
The new offense should help the Miami QBs make quicker decisions and be able to get the ball out quicker which helps the offensive line. Off the field, King has four prior years of collegiate experience as a QB and wide receiver that should help the rest of the Miami QB learn how to conduct themselves as expected.