Miami Hurricanes QB D’Eriq King previews future in first scrimmage
With only four practices this spring, the first scrimmage of August training camp created great anticipation to see graduate transfer quarterback D’Eriq King in his first game setting for the Miami Hurricanes.
The build-up for Miami Hurricanes graduate transfer quarterback D’Eriq King has increased during the offseason after spring practice was shortened to just four sessions. King made his Miami debut beyond practice on Sunday night when the Hurricanes held their first scrimmage of the fall.
King flashed the future of what could happen this fall on Sunday night. The elusive QB who has been praised for his strong arm and accuracy completed 15 of 26 passes for 178 yards and four TDs. The ability for King to make plays with his feet also pleased head coach Manny Diaz on Sunday night.
The addition of King is expected to improve the QB play the Miami Hurricanes have on the field with his dynamism to make plays on his own when the one called breaks down and for his maturity and leadership off the field. Miami lacked consistency at QB last season leading Diaz to shuffle QBs for the second straight season.
King arrives in 2020 to solidify the position. The ability for King as a dual-threat QB to run and throw the ball with accuracy and a precise deep ball coupled with a new offensive led by coordinator Rhett Lashlee is expected to improve a Miami offense that was in the bottom third of FBS in 2019.
"“D’Eriq King, his ability to make plays — four touchdown passes, played with his feet, really, really ignited our offense and really got ‘em going…He has had a great camp so far and he had a great night last night. He had four touchdown passes and a couple of those were against outstanding coverage.He made some really, really good throws. I’ll tell you, we aren’t live with the quarterbacks and the guy is just hard to tag. We are still playing tag with him and he is hard enough to put a hand on, let alone when we have to bring him to the ground.We were looking for someone the offense could trust and rally around and he has given us that. It was fun to watch him run around and perform in that setting.”"
The ability for King to make plays was praised by Diaz in a video released by the
and during an appearance on the
. King was named the starter earlier this summer in what seemed like a formality.
is expected to be the second team QB in 2020.
Perry was 8-13 for 140 yards with a touchdown pass during the scrimmage Sunday night. Perry has played in 19 games and started nine in his first two seasons after redshirting as a true freshman in 2017. Battling behind Perry to move up to second team QB are redshirt junior Tate Martell and true freshman Tyler VanDyke.
Next. Diaz praises Miami freshmen RBs as explosive. dark
Miami also has redshirt freshman Peyton Matocha on the roster to add depth. If King can stay healthy the second-team QB will not be as important to the Hurricanes as they have been the past two seasons. King has renewed excitement in the fanbase and is expected to stabilize the QB play in 2020.