Manny Diaz hired Rhett Lashlee to be the new offensive coordinator for the Miami football team because of the prolific numbers of the SMU offense in 2019. What would those numbers be in context for the Hurricanes?
The offense for the Miami football team was in the bottom quarter in FBS by virtually every measure in 2019. Led by new Hurricanes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, the SMU offense was one of the best in most categories last season. Where would the prolific 2019 SMU offense rank in Miami history?
SMU was seventh in scoring offense in 2019, ninth in total offense, 18th in passing and 43rd in rushing. Conversely, Miami was 90th in scoring offense, 87th in total offense, 48th in passing and 118th in rushing. Lashlee and Houston graduate transfer QB D’Eriq King are expected to give an instant boost to the Miami offense.
Several of the SMU offensive players had big seasons in 2019. None of those players more so than wide receiver James Proche. Proche tied for the national lead with Justin Jefferson of LSU with 111 receptions. Miami was led by K.J. Osborn who had 50 receptions. Proche passed 50 receptions in SMU’s seventh game of 2019.
Proche holds the SMU career record with 301 career receptions breaking the record set by currently San Francisco 49ers two-time Pro Bowl WR Emmanuel Sanders. The career receiving record for the Miami football program is 173 set by Reggie Wayne from 1997-2000. Proche passed those numbers in the last two seasons.
The record for receptions in one season by a Miami player is 72 set by Leonard Hankerson in 2010. That record should be seriously threatened in 2020. Senior WR Mike Harley and junior tight end Brevin Jordan should become the two favorite receivers of King this fall. SMU set multiple records on offense in 2019.