There is potential for Miami football graduate transfer quarterback D’Eriq King to return for a second season in Coral Gables following an NCAA ruling to have 2020 fall sports athletes not have this season count towards their eligibility.
The decision by the NCAA Division I Council to allow fall sport athletes to participate in any amount of games this fall and have not have 2020 count against their eligibility could benefit the Miami football program and quarterback D’Eriq King. King appears to be considering the option of returning in 2021.
In a tweet posted on Wednesday night, King stated “Hmm wow” in retweeting the news from the NCAA via Pro Football Focus. King transferred to Miami from Houston following the 2020 season. As a graduate transfer in 2020, King is in his fifth season of college eligibility and first with the Miami football program.
King has previously stated that if Miami does not have a 2020 football season he would be open to returning. It appears that if the Hurricanes do play this fall King would be open to playing for the Miami football team in 2021 if the eligibility proposal passes. If King is the starting QB for Miami in 2021 that could solve a lot of problems.
As it stands now, Miami would have redshirt juniors N’Kosi Perry and Tate Martell, redshirt freshman Peyton Matocha and freshman Tyler VanDyke also returning to the roster at QB in 2021. If King returns it would buy VanDyke an extra season to learn and he could still potentially be a redshirt freshman in 2022.
Miami could choose to redshirt VanDyke in 2021 when he would still be a true freshman in eligibility. The potential could be that the NCAA does not allow redshirt seasons for active players who have not taken one yet. Many players currently playing college football could play this season and have six years of eligibility.
The proposal still needs to be approved by the NCAA Board of Governors. If King does return in 2021 his decision would also help the incoming Miami recruiting class that has yet to receive a commitment from a QB. If King decides to return the likelihood would be that Perry, Martell, or both could decide to transfer.