D’Eriq King eyeing NFL Draft, Miami football could add McKenzie Milton
With quarterback D’Eriq King likely entering the NFL Draft following the season, the Miami football program could add former Central Florida signal-caller McKenzie Milton.
Quarterback D’Eriq King will enter the NFL Draft following the 2020 season according to a report from CaneSport via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. King reportedly has spoken to former Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton to inform him of his intentions. Milton could join the Miami football program.
King is having an elite season for the Miami football team in his first playing in a Power Five conference. The former Houston QB has completed 63.9 percent of his passes this season for 2,331 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2020 while running for 467 yards and another four TDs.
King and Milton competed against each other in the American Athletic Conference. Milton was the QB as Houston defeated Central Florida 31-24, while King caught four passes for 55 yards. Milton had a legendary career for the Knights before suffering a gruesome leg injury in 2018 that caused him to miss the entire 2019 season.
Milton returned this year as the backup to Dillon Gabriel. In 33 games as the starter for Central Florida from 2016-2018, Milton threw for 8,683 yards, 72 TDs and 22 interceptions with 1,078 rushing yards and another 20 TDs. CaneSport also reported that Miami could sign Milton and sign four-star QB Jake Garcia.
If King leaves, the only QBs remaining on the Miami roster for 2021 would be redshirt junior
, redshirt freshman
and true freshman
. Miami is the prohibitive favorite to sign Garcia after he de-committed from USC last week. Milton would give Miami another year for the young QBs to mature.
A year of Milton would allow Garcia and VanDyke to gain experience in the Rhett Lashlee offense before competing to be the starter in 2022. All 2020 fall sports athletes have an extra year of eligibility granted to them. Garcia, Matocha and VanDyke would all in theory be freshmen in 2021.
If Milton winds up with Miami there is a strong likelihood that Perry would transfer following the season. Perry has two years of eligibility remaining following the 2020 season. It is difficult to see Perry waiting until 2022 to be the starter for Miami. Perry started nine games for Miami in 2018 and 2019.
Milton would be a risk coming off of an injury that almost caused the amputation of his leg. Washington Football team QB Alex Smith suffered a similar injury in 2018 and has returned this season and is starting. Milton would be the perfect QB for the Lashlee system if he can return healthy in 2021.