Miami football vaults into top 15 without Big 10, Pac 12, MAC, MWC
The Miami football team vaulted from unranked to 15th in the rankings from 247Sports, The Athletic and The College Football News.
Unranked in the preseason rankings, the College Football News and 247 Sports the Miami football team vaulted to 15th. The Athletic ranked Miami 17th. The cancelation of the fall season from the Big 10 and PAC 12 allowed the Hurricanes to make the massive jump. The Hurricanes were not ranked in the initial rankings.
Miami has made a lot of changes to its roster and offensive coaching staff that national writers are taking notice of. Quarterback D’Eriq King and new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee with the up-tempo spread offense are expected to elevate the Hurricanes. The importance of defensive Quincy Roche rose last week.
The decision by All-American DE Greg Rousseau to opt-out of the 2020 season to stay healthy and get ready for the NFL Draft provides Roche to be the star of the Miami defense after transferring from Temple. King transferred to Miami from Houston in the offseason. King and Roche could be the best transfers in the country.
Diaz has pushed all the right buttons during the offseason. The support by Diaz and his staff following the Black Lives Matter movement of his players and their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has created a lot of trust in the Miami football program. Crawford discusses Miami’s offseason and outlook for 2020.
"Brad Crawford 247 Sports15. MIAMI HURRICANESThe word: If you haven’t read Manny Diaz’s mid-week mic drop on COVID-19 and his university’s plan to keep players safe, give it a look. It didn’t come together for Diaz and the Hurricanes last fall, especially down the stretch for a team that simply didn’t learn how to finish.Miami hopes the addition of Houston transfer quarterback D’Eriq King brings consistent and dynamic play at the position and expects the bulk of a talented defense returning to be its calling card."
The AP Top 25 preseason college football poll is scheduled to be released Monday, Aug. 24, around noon.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) August 10, 2020
We'll see what happens.
The 2020 Miami football season is going to be made by King on offense and by a defense led by Roche. Opposite of Roche as the other edge rusher is redshirt junior Jaelan Phillips who was the top-ranked signee in the class of 2017. The pair of Phillips and Roche should still give Miami one of the best pass rushes in the country.
Mandel like Crawford has high expectations for Miami this season because of King. Like most predictions with Miami over the past few seasons, the projections are cautiously optimistic. The Hurricanes are often a trendy pick only to not reach those expectations in most seasons.
"Stewart Mandel The Athletic 17. MiamiI know I might regret this one, but with 40 percent of the field out, suddenly QB D’Eriq King is getting my hopes up, too. Temple grad transfer Quincy Roche becomes even more important now that star DE Gregory Rousseau opted out."
The College Football News re-ranked their preseason expectations of how the new AP Rankings will turn out but did not profile the teams like 247 Sports and The Athletic. The new offense being installed by Lashlee will give the Hurricanes a different look this fall and should put pressure on opposing defenses.
Next. Diaz showing great leadership during offseason. dark
Diaz spoke about Miami having two plays with King at QB. The play called by Lashlee and the one King can create if the play breaks down. Miami will similarly put pressure on opposing defenses with pass rush Phillips, Roche and redshirt freshman Jahfari Harvey will provide. Miami has a great opportunity in 2020.