Miami Hurricanes WRs among the best nationally in November
The Miami Hurricanes wide receiving corps has become one of the best in the nation during November.
The three starting wide receivers for the Miami Hurricanes have continued to improve throughout the 2020 season. After being maligned early in the season, the Miami WRs have excelled in November. Senior Mike Harley and juniors, Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins have been at their best in the last few games.
Harley, Pope and Wiggins have improved their play after the Miami coaching staff listed them as co-starters with the other six scholarship wide receivers on the roster. Since then, all three have excelled as the Miami passing game with D’Eriq King at quarterback have thrived in wins over Virginia, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech.
Harley began the surge of the Miami WRs with 10 receptions for 170 yards and one touchdown against Virginia. Harley followed up his performance against the Cavaliers with eight receptions for 151 yards and two TDs last in the fourth quarter against the Wolfpack and six catches for 51 yards against the Hokies.
Wiggins has re-established himself as the deep threat he was for the Miami Hurricanes in November 2019. After three receptions for 36 yards against Virginia, Wiggins has 15 catches for 183 yards and a TD in the last two games. Pope had 3-48 against the Cavaliers and 10-147 and two TDs in the last two games.
Pope had the game-winning 36-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter against Virginia Tech. The WR corps stepping up for Miami in the middle of the season has been critical for the Hurricanes during their four-game winning streak. If at least Pope and Wiggins return in Miami they will have a reliable WR corps in 2021.
The Miami pass offense has improved to be the ninth-ranked in November. Miami is averaging 343 passing yards over their last two games this month. The Hurricanes are the 38th ranked passing offense this season averaging 268.9 yards per game. The Miami WRs are also more highly ranked in November than overall.
Harley is the only Miami receiver in the top 100. Harley is 66th averaging 5.1 RPG and 69th averaging 69.5 receiving yards per game. Wiggins is 17th at 7.5 RPG, Harley 22nd at 7.0 RPG and Pope 60th at 5.0 RPG in November. Harley is 29th at 102 RYPG, Wiggins 41st at 91.5 and Pope 76th at 73.5 RPG in November.
All three of the Miami first-team WRs being ranked in nationally is impressive after barely making an impact for Miami earlier this season. With their next two games against the potent offenses of Wake Forest and North Carolina, Miami needs the Hurricanes WRs to continue to play at an elite level.