Miami football only program with QB and DE in top 50 players nationally

The Miami football program is the only one in the nation with players at the two most important positions of quarterback and defensive end in the top 50 according to 247Sports rankings.

Transfer quarterback D’Eriq King and redshirt sophomore defensive end Greg Rousseau were the only teammates at those critical positions ranked in the top 50 players nationally according to 247Sports as primarily ranked by Chris Hummer and Charles Power. The strength of those two positions helps the Miami football team.

The rankings were determined by five factors. The rankings are listed below. They were initially sorted by positions and assigned rankings that were then sorted into overall tiers. Value by position was used as a tiebreaker in addition to what the player has achieved during his career. Some players are more based on projections.

King and Rousseau have more than proven their status as elite college football players. Rousseau had 54 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks during his first full seasons playing college football after missing most of his true freshman season in 2018 with an injury. Rousseau is projected to be a 2021 NFL First Round pick.

King threw for 4,925 yards, 50 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and ran for 1,421 yards and 28 TDs during his tenure in Houston. Rousseau is ranked as the eighth-best player and top edge rusher in the country. King is 44th overall and 10th best QB. Being elite at those positions is critical to success.

"1. Players were initially sorted by position and were assigned rankings.2. Players were then sorted into overall tiers.3. Positional value was often used to break ties.4. Generally, what a player has done in his career was used as a tiebreaker as well.5. Some players on this list are more projections than proven entities. In those cases, we tended to be a little more cautious with their rankings while still reflecting what we expect them to become."

Rousseau was the second-best edge rusher in college football in 2019 and has the room to improve in 2020. The addition of Temple transfer DE Quincy Roche who was the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 will make it difficult to double team Rousseau in 2019. Rousseau was profiled by 247 Sports.

"8. GREGORY ROUSSEAU, DE, MIAMIThere’s only a one-year sample size here, but what a sample it was. Rousseau broke out as a redshirt freshman, totaling 54 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. Only Chase Young totaled more sacks than Rousseau last season.A converted high school wide receiver, Rousseau combines skill player athleticism with an elite frame (6-foot-7, 253 pounds) and is ready to take Young’s mantle as the sport’s top EDGE rusher."

King brings consistency and leadership at QB to the Miami football team. The dynamic play he brings to the position is unprecedented for a Miami QB. The Hurricanes have not had a signal-caller who is a true dual-threat QB like King has shown the ability to be. King will fit in perfectly to Rhett Lashlee’s spread offense.

"44. D’Eriq King, QB, MiamiAt his peak, King is among the most dynamic players in the country. King finished the 2018 season with 50 total touchdowns, breaking the AAC’s single-season record despite missing Houston’s final 2.5 games.King finished that campaign with 2,982 yards, 36 touchdowns against six interceptions while rushing for 674 yards and 12 additional scores. King is one of only three players in the FBS since 2000 to post at least 35 passing and 13 rushing touchdowns in a single season.It’ll be interesting to see how King is utilized at Miami after transferring from Houston this offseason."

Hiring Lashlee from SMU as the new offensive coordinator and signing King as a transfer from Houston to be the new QB was a perfect convergence for Manny Diaz entering the 2020 Miami football season. The return of Rousseau with Roche to play with him should give the Hurricanes the best pass rush in college football.

Having elite play at QB and edge rusher is a great foundation for any modern football team. The ability to have consistent play at QB and continually put pressure on opposing QBs puts a lot of pressure on an opposing team. Miami should be elite at both those spots in 2020.